Bad Blood Page 23

  A few days before leaving for Europe, Armstrong had joked on American TV that the French football team had tested positive – ‘for being assholes’. This came within hours of the nation’s 2006 World Cup Final defeat and the career-ending dismissal of Zinedine Zidane.

  When Lance’s private jet touched down at the foot of the Alps, the locals gave him a warm reception. ‘It was a joke – where’s your sense of humour?’ he retorted when challenged by French television. But a reservoir of resentment spilled over. Tabloid newspaper France-Soir paid the seven-time Tour champion back in spades.

  ‘Bienvenue en France, Trou-duc!’ it bellowed. ‘Welcome to France, Asshole!’

  When he got to Alpe d’Huez, he held court with a group of favoured journalists. One of them asked him if he had been offended by the France-Soir headline.

  Lance Armstrong looked around the room, at the familiar faces, at the notebooks, cameras and tape recorders, poised, ready and waiting, and threw his head back and laughed.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  This book was originally entitled Ten Years in a Hire Car, which, I have to say, I still rather like. However, with doping now the dominant issue in cycling (and other sports), such a jolly title became increasingly inappropriate. Bad Blood was far more fitting.

  For their guidance and support I owe thanks to my agent, David Luxton, to Tristan Jones and all at Random House. I’d also particularly like to thank Daniel Friebe for being such a good friend and collaborator over the past few years, during late nights on the road and a few lost days on the golf course.

  For inspiration, support and provocation, thanks to the following: my family, Murf and Ted, Aubrey and Joan, Fergus MacLeod, Steven Hunter, Freya North, Alun Williams and Sally O’Sullivan, Andy Hood, Rupert Guinness, Justin Davis, Sam Abt, Bob Chicken Snr, Ellis Bacon, Lars Werge, William Fotheringham, Rowan Andrews, Alastair Campbell, Hedwig Kroener, Susanne Horsdal, Phil O’Connor, Bonnie de Simone, Graham Jones and Simon Brotherton, Mick Bennett, Ian Banbery, Sarah Wynne, David Chappell, Stephen Penman, Richard Moore, Tim Moore, Deirdre Rooney and Sarah Wharton, Andrew and Judith Hodge, Chris Boardman, Rufus, Leslie, Neil and Josh, Avril, Frances and David Millar, James and Lindsay Poole, Peter Cossins, Les Woodland, David Poole, James Warren, Pete Goding and Paul Godfrey, Lance Armstrong, Brendan Gallagher, Kenny Pryde, Duncan Steer, Paul Auster, Matt Rendell, Kirsten Begg, Julian Clark, David Sharp, Ruth Jarvis, Paul Kimmage, Pierre Ballester, Denis Descamps, Greg LeMond, Wes Anderson, Tim Lott and Jonathan Coe, Matt DeCanio, Chris Lillywhite, Frankie Andreu and Filippo Simeoni, all those at the roadside, the hoteliers and barmen and so many others, who really are far too numerous to mention.

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  Copyright © Jeremy Whittle 2008

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