Former New Zealand cyclist Stephen Swart. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Former New Zealand cyclist Stephen Swart. Photo / Sarah Ivey
Disgraced drug cheat Lance Armstrong's bid to clear the air with former leading New Zealand cyclist Stephen Swart hasn't got off to a smooth start.
Armstrong is in Auckland for the filming of a commercial with an unnamed company.
He was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and received a life ban in 2012.
Swart, a former team mate on Armstrong's team, was among the first people to break the code of silence around the US Postal Team's drug programme and implicate Armstrong in allegations of doping in 1997.
Meeting Swart is on Armstrong's to dos while in the country; how it pans out remains to be seen.
A third party texted the Waikato rider saying Armstrong was interested in meeting for a beer. While Swart didn't rule out a catchup he took a dim view of the manner of the approach and wondered why Armstrong hadn't simply rung him himself.
Lance Armstrong arrives at Auckland International Airport. Photo / Jason Oxenham
"My phone ain't rung," Swart told the Herald this morning. "It's speculation at the moment.
"My number's not hard to find. He needs to call. He needs to make the effort."
Swart also pointed out there are "probably people in front of me who he needs to apologise to."
At the time Swart spoke out, Armstrong called him "a liar who had mental issues", after Swart talked about doping that took place in their team in 1995.
"..Swarty was part of the team with Armstrong for many, many years," New Zealand's 12-time Ironman Cameron Brown said after taking a leisurely ride with Armstrong.
Brown admits he weighed up the up and down side of associating with one of the most notorious sports cheats in history, but was comfortable with his decision.
"I think you've got to forgive people in the end. You can talk about the past for as long as you want but history is history," Brown said.
Brown has been castigated on social media for his positive comments about his time with Armstrong, who remains a sporting pariah after his involvement with systematic cheating.
Listen: 2013 - Stephen Swart talks with Tony Veitch days after Lance Armstrong's 'confession' with Oprah
In 2013, Armstrong confessed to American talk show host Oprah Winfrey that not only did he use EPO and blood dope throughout his career, but that it was also impossible to win seven Tours de France without drugs.
He admitted using EPO, human growth hormone and testosterone, despite going years emphatically denying any drug use.
"I view this situation as one big lie that I repeated a lot of times," Armstrong said at the time.
Armstrong has issued an invitation for cyclists to ride with him tomorrow morning. "Good morning New Zealand! Let's ride Tuesday AM! Cruisy waterfront loop (Tamaki Drive/Cliff Road). 6am. Mechanics Bay. See ya there!" he tweeted.
Among the responses was this from @SmithyInWelly: "Lance Armstrong can/should piss right off. Surely you're better than that New Zealand? Cheat. End of."
