Former Cyclist Tyler Hamilton Comes Clean in New Book
Published at
Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Former cyclist, Tyler Hamilton has a new book out called The Secret Race, Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Doping, Cover-Ups and Winning at All Costs. In the book, Hamilton recalls the years he spent hiding behind his lies about using performance-enhancing drugs and his relationship with Lance Armstrong.
Hamilton’s co-author, Daniel Coyle, said he agreed to write the book only if Hamilton gave him full access to his records and gave him the chance to independently verify all of Hamilton’s recollections.
Hamilton spoke with ABC Sports Radio about why he chose to come out with the book now.
“I was prepared to take all these lies to the grave,” the 41-year-old Hamilton said on Thursday. “(Federal Investigator) Jeff Novitzky called me and I was subpoenaed and I told the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It was a huge relief, a massive weight off my back.”
The book provides details of an 18-month process in which the grand jury collected evidence against former seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.
“The hardest part was telling my mom and dad that I had been lying to them the last 15 years,” Hamilton said. “That was a pretty tough moment.”
But Hamilton says it wasn’t only Armstrong who used performance-enhancing drugs.
“Everybody’s trying to pinpoint out Lance (Armstrong) but those were the times, I can’t speak for cycling today but back then it was prevalent, doping was prevalent.”
Hamilton said hopefully the book teaches current and future cyclists to make the right choice and stay away from using PEDs.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio