Armstrong confident cycling can weather doping storm
SEOUL (Reuters) - Seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong says cycling's premier race can recover from a series of doping scandals and come back even stronger.
The 94th edition of Le Tour saw several riders, including pre-race favorite Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov, sacked for failing to pass doping tests during the event.
"I think cycling will survive and ultimately thrive," Armstrong told reporters at a news conference in Seoul, where he is promoting a cycling event and various charities.
"It's been around for a while, it's not the first decade of scandals, and it's still here and still strong."
In addition to Vinokourov, who was sent packing from the Tour with his Astana team, the Cofidis team was also pulled out of the race following Italian Cristian Moreni's positive test for testosterone.
Winner Alberto Contador took the yellow jersey after previous race leader Dane Michael Rasmussen was sacked by his Rabobank team for lying about his training whereabouts, blocking random out-of-competition tests. He denies the allegation.
"It was definitely a very interesting year .... a rider in a yellow jersey fired by his team while he's in the yellow jersey. I don't think that's ever happened before," said Armstrong, who has repeatedly fought off allegations he was involved in doping.
Armstrong said organizers are on the right track for cleaning up the sport.
"I commend cycling for what they do. I don't think any other world sport can compare to what cycling has done."
