Tyler Hamilton has hit back at International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid saying he has to leave the sport. The UCI yesterday stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles and banned him for life. Testimony from former Armstrong teammates Hamilton and Floyd Landis played a major role in bringing the Texan. However, speaking to journalists yesterday, McQuaid said the two men who lied about their doping past should not be seen as heroes.
“Landis started it, he was in a bottomless hole and he said the only way out of it was to bring the sport down,” McQuaid said after the ruling.
“Another thing that annoys me is that Landis and Hamilton are being made out to be heroes. They are as far from heroes as night and day. They are not heroes, they are scumbags. All they have done is damage the sport.”
Hamilton retaliated on Tuesday, according to Reuters. “Pat McQuaid's comments expose the hypocrisy of his leadership and demonstrate why he is incapable of any meaningful change.
“Instead of seizing an opportunity to instil hope for the next generation of cyclists, he continues to point fingers, shift blame and attack those who speak out, tactics that are no longer effective. Pat McQuaid has no place in cycling.”
Hamilton released his book The Secret Race in September 2012 in which he detailed his doping past and that of Armstrong. During his career Hamilton was caught and denied doping until finally coming clean. He has urged Armstrong to do the same.
Armstrong yesterday removed ‘7 Times Tour de France winner’ from his Twitter bio, but has not commented on the UCI’s ruling.