Over the past few years Bob Gosford has written no end of pieces about the relationship, monetary and otherwise, between Mike Rann’s South Australian government and retired cyclist Lance Armstrong. He is still waiting for answers.
Lance Armstrong
Google, Demand Media, Lance Armstrong and ‘the worst IPO of the year’
What do cyclist Lance Armstrong, “content farmer” Demand Media and Google have in common? Read on.
Is Lance Armstrong’s legacy in doubt?
Lance Armstrong came 81st in the first stage of the Tour Down Under but that may be the least of his worries. There is rising speculation Armstrong will withdraw from the tour early and ongoing controversy concerning possible drug use, writes Bob Gosford.
An open letter to Lance Armstrong: you can do better than 50k for the floods, mate
Cycling superstar Lance Armstrong has pledged to donate $50,000 to the Queensland Flood Appeal but Bob Gosford reckons he could do better. Like, $1,950,000 better.
Lance Armstrong: ‘dancing on the pedals*’ all the way to the bank — again
Over the years the speculation over how much Lance Armstrong has been paid for each visit to ride here varies between $1.5 million and $3 million … but the SA government is being shy about saying.
Evil riders or institutionalised corruption?
Martin Hardie, writer of the I Wish I was Twenty One Today: Beyond Doping in the Australian Peloton resarch report, discusses the perspectives and experiences of Australian professional cyclists and their cohort in relation to drugs in cycling.
Third win just as sweet for Contador
Spanish rider Alberto Contador was able to rise to the challenge and win his third Tour de France on Sunday, in one of the most dangerous tours in the race’s history.
Mountains hammer Armstrong: new rumours may repeat the dose
“Some days you’re the hammer, some days you’re the nail,” Lance Armstrong said after a grueling Tour de France ride. Doping allegations are continuing to hammer the champion, says Bob Gosford.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Crikey on the money about Rann’s Lance Armstrong spend
Public money comes with a level of public exposure and accountability, writes one Crikey reader, as they weigh in on Mike Rann, Lance Armstrong and the Tour Down Under debacle.
Armstrong in Oz: mountains of money and hoardes of “yes men”
Lance Armstrong recently said that fellow cyclist Alberto Contador was surrounded by “yes-men”. Pot calling the kettle black much? asks Bob Gosford.
Armstrong and Rann, the Tour Down Under funder
With eight weeks to go to the next election, SA Premier Mike Rann is doing his best to distract the South Australia masses with a party that runs right up to election day, also known as the cycling Tour Down Under.
A final tour of the Tour de France
From sulkiest rider to most unusual press freebie, Alasdair Fotheringham looks at the things that made this year’s Tour de France buzz.
Lance v Alberto: Tour de France tension is climbing
The most tense spot on the Tour right now is within the Astana team. With stage 17 of the Tour de France ended — won by Frank Schleck — Lance Armstrong has again slammed his team leader Alberto Contador.
Tonight the Tour de France surely ignites?
Tonight’s brute of a 223km stage of La Grande Boucle offers any rider outside the Astana team their first realistic moment of truth since the Trans France Express took control of the race on just the fourth day.
How Lance Armstrong is like Sarah Palin
They both react to any criticism with extreme defensiveness. And while they both periodically issue petulant threats to quit, you get the funny feeling that neither one is going away any time soon.
Aussies prang as Tour de Lance invades Andorra
Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse for Australia in the Tour De France…
Tour de France winner’s cancer to ignite drugs debate?
Fignon’s cancer is bound to reignite debate about the potential grave medical consequences from the taking of performance enhancing drugs, writes Ross Stapleton.
Lance Armstrong: still in training
Lance Armstrong’s fans aren’t accustomed to him coming in 73rd place. “Not every race is like the Tour de France” said Armstrong.
Broken collarbones, bane of the cyclist
Broken collarbones are a rite of passage in the cycling world, an injury so common, many pros see it as another day at the office.
Lance Armstrong, $3 million and the silence of the Rann
Crikey understands that Lance Armstrong pocketed up to $3 million in cash for his recent visit to Adelaide, reports Bob Gosford.
Cadel Evans: Barwon Heads’ favourite son
To the hard-core cycling fan, the face that appeared one day in Hendry Cycles in Ocean Grove, south of Geelong, would have looked familiar. The face, in fact, belonged to Cadel Evans, who had just moved into the neighbouring town of Barwon Heads and was looking for a regular cycling group to join.
Drugs, cycling and the lure of filthy lycra
It’s an odd phenomenon, and one that’s difficult to explain, but the popularity of the Tour de France increases exponentially each year in Australia in almost inverse proportion to the event’s credibility, says Charles Happell.
