Cycling's LeMond: Fire 'Corrupt' Honchos

Tour de France champ calls for presidents of International Cycling Union to resign
By Liam Carnahan,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 25, 2012 7:48 AM CDT
Cycling's LeMond: Fire 'Corrupt' Honchos
FILE - This May 17, 2007, file photo shows former cyclist Greg LeMond, a three-time Tour de France winner, taking the oath before testifying during an arbitration hearing on the doping allegations.   (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond called for the resignation of two prominent leaders of the International Cycling Union in a fiery open letter posted on his Facebook page last night, reports al-Jazeera. UCI is the sport's governing body, and the very group that stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour titles. LeMond doesn't have a problem with the organization itself, but says current leader Pat McQuaid and predecessor Hein Verbruggen are "the epitome of the word corruption" and need to step down.

"You know dam (sic) well what has been going on in cycling, and if you want to deny it, then even more reasons why those who love cycling need to demand that you resign," LeMond wrote, according to the AP. It's a brave move, since others who have accused the two of corruption have faced charges of defamation, often resulting in pricey fines. But LeMond has already donated money to help out previous accusers, and he says he is "willing to donate a lot more, but I would like to use it to lobby for dramatic change in cycling. The sport does not need Pat McQuaid or Hein Verbruggen." (More Greg LeMond stories.)

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