• Lemond is generally acknowledged as a clean rider, probably seen as the one true clean winner of Grand Tours. Pre EPO the drugs weren't as performance-enhancing of course, but pretty much name a winner and there will be a drug anecdote somewhere. Amphetamine was the drug of choice primarily, morphine in the legs at night to numb the pain, various cocktails of substances offered by the soigneurs, who were valued for their 'medicines' although a good proportion was hokum.

    But it was possible to ride and win clean, and the riders winning were still the most talented. EPO is the game-changer, so good responders like Armstrong and Indurain could dope heavily and beat much better riders, even if those riders were using EPO themselves.

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