While most books about Lance Armstrong are about LanceArmstrong, it is important to note that this one is not. This is neither a bookabout his bike, him, or his inner philanthropist, though he does remain theprotagonist of choice. The book is a testament to a journalist and his trade.To be more specific, the area of sports journalism, and the truth thatsometimes remains hidden. From his record- breaking, seven Tour de Francevictories in a row, to being the man who wrote a moving account of his life, tobeing one of the world’s most charitable benefactors, Armstrong’s story wasalmost too good to be true. As David Walsh went on to prove, it was.
This journalist was a man who was doggedly right about hissuspicions. No later than Armstrong's first victory on the ‘Tour’ 14 years ago,the Sunday Times journalist believed that his incredible performances wereunreal. There were hundreds of cycling journalists who filed their reportsevery day from cycling’s Holy Grail, the Tour de France. While they hung on toevery word from the seven-time winner (or should we say non-champion),Armstrong, Walsh has now made them look like thin reeds blowing in a gale forcestorm.
Using all the insider information he could get his hands on,and countless hours on endless research, he began to unravel the liessurrounding Armstrong’s life. In the third quarter of 2012, his work paid off,as a damning report on Armstrong was finally published, that resulted in the‘people’s athlete’ being stripped of his seven ‘Tour’ victories.
Walsh goes on to highlight why one should not underestimatethe machinery that Armstrong had in place to cover up his ‘routes to victory’,highlighting that it is not possible to successfully live a lie for longwithout the aid of powerful friends in powerful places.
Walsh thoroughly deserves the credit this book gives him,and an undoubtedly more relaxing time than his last few years, which he spentin chasing his dream story. Maybe he’ll watch others emulate his form while hesits back and relaxes. Not something worth betting on though.
