When someone is outstanding in any field they become a target for supporters of their opponents. When someone is truly dominant, like Armstrong was, a lot of very good people lose their chance to win. There are a lot of riders who might have taken the yellow jersey during a different era, but couldn’t get beyond Armstrong, who was backed by a hell of team.
I think being sponsored by the US Postal Service was also annoying to a lot of people. Imagine a Royal Mail team coming in first in the Grand Prix – it just grates. There were people in the US who were outraged about it, not understand that USPS is no longer a purely public enterprise.
He does sell newspapers, and generates media attention. NBC wouldn’t have discovered the Tour without Armstrong’s success.
]]>Armstrong is sort of a sideshow to the main event, although he’s good for the race sponsors and brings out the crowds.
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