For years Lance Armstrong cheated. For years Lance Armstrong lied. But the first time he came clean was in an interview with Oprah Winfrey broadcast on Thursday night. In the first of his two-part interview the disgraced cycling legend told Oprah that he was indeed involved in a sophisticated doping program where he had multiple blood transfusions in addition to using a “cocktail” of drugs, including testosterone, cortisone, human growth hormone and the blood booster EPO.
Armstrong, who was recently asked to return his bronze medal from the Olympics, was also stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency raised accusations against him last October. This morning two-time U.S. professional cycling champion, cycling coach and analyst John Eustice weighs in on the first 90-minute interview and what we can expect to learn from the second installment set to be broadcast on Friday night.
Eustice comments on Armstrong’s responses and attitude during the first part of the interview with Oprah. According to Eustice’s knowledge of Armstrong, he will never express “weepy, I’m sorry emotion,” because he’s naturally a “tough, hard guy.” “For Lance, that was pretty good,” he says about how Armstrong came across to viewers. “But I think he made his best efforts to put the truth out there.”
Eustice considers this interview Armstrong’s coming to terms with his life after the fallout. “He tried to explain and admitted his own doping. He tried to explain the doping culture of, not only cycling, but I’d like to say for, professional sports. And I think it’s not what everybody wants, but it’s was a very, very good, and a fairly brave first step for him.”
(CNN) - After years of tenacious spin that he was innocent, Lance Armstrong has backpedaled in a confessional interview with Oprah Winfrey. He admitted unequivocally to using performance enhancing drugs in his seven Tour de France wins.
But his critics say he is still spinning the story.
Armstrong has, in the past, persistently and angrily denied the allegations - even under oath.
Did he use the blood enhancing hormone EPO? Testosterone? Cortisone? Human growth hormone? Illegal blood transfusions and other blood doping? Armstrong answered "yes" on all counts in the first installment of a two-part interview that aired Thursday night. Part two airs Friday on Winfrey's OWN channel and online.
The disgraced cyclist, who has been stripped of his Tour de France titles and an Olympic bronze medal, blamed no one but himself for his doping decisions, careful not to implicate others.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's George Howell breaks down the highlights from Lance Armstrong's interview with Oprah.
READ MORE: 'Deeply flawed' Lance Armstrong admits using performance enhancing drugs
(CNN) - The court of public opinion weighed in decidedly against Lance Armstrong after he reportedly admitted to Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs to push his cycling career into high gear.
ABC News, the New York Times and USA Today, citing unnamed sources, reported Monday night that the former cyclist finally admitted to using steroids during an interview he and Winfrey taped in Armstrong's hometown of Austin, Texas.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Ed Lavandera reports on the latest in Armstrong's admission.
READ MORE: Public takes its shots at Armstrong after reported admission to Oprah