Cycling 'good for us all', Armstrong tells apologetic talk show host

Lance Armstrong hauled himself from his sick bed to speak to US sport radio host Tony Kornheiser, leaving in him in no doubt of cyclists' attitudes to his views.

Armstrong, who will miss today's Milan-San Remo classic because of gastroenteritis, went on the show after Kornheiser called for motorists to run down cyclists.

Yesterday, a chastened Kornheiser played The Beatles' 'All You Need Is Love' before apologising for his remarks.

“The bicycle people who heard it were properly offended,” Kornheiser said. “and it worked its way all the way to the most famous cyclist in the history of the United States, the multiple Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, who lit me up on Twitter, which many of you have read about.”

Then he introduced Armstrong, who said: “Well, first of all let me just say that … for myself and all the people that get on bikes, we appreciate your apology and I think we take that as a sincere apology.”

“If it’s you or me, or anybody else out there that has this podium … whatever we say ... it might be funny, we may think it’s a joke but people actually take it seriously sometimes.

Kornheiser asked why Armstrong thought motorists seemed to be capable of waiting behind school buses and tractors, but became irate when faced with a group of cyclists.

“So, to your point of this interaction and this relationship between people on bikes and people in cars,” replied Armstrong. “I think that's a relationship that has to co-exist now and forever because … we're both gonna be around forever. It's one that's going to require mutual respect.

“Cyclists can't go down the road five abreast in Rock Creek Park. I understand. I go on rides all the time when people start lining up beside me wanting to chat and I say, ‘Hey, you know we gotta single up here, we got some cars back’.

“But at the same time there's no need for a car to come by and brush a cyclist, especially considering they're human beings on bikes … Not everybody's used to riding with cars. It could be a a 40-year-old lady – it's her first bike ride and she's out on the street and some guy comes and brushes her and taps her with a mirror. Trust me, she never gets on a bike ever again because she's so scared, and that's a shame. I know it's a volatile situation sometimes but both sides have to understand each other…

“The other thing I think I should say … [is that] cycling lost a guy yesterday who was well regarded and loved by many people, and got hit by a car and killed in the Carolinas – a guy by the name of Adam Little. I think it touched this nerve for a lot of people in the cycling community for both of those things to come out on the same day … Look, we’ve got to all get along here, and sometimes it's heated.

“I've seen cars do all sorts of things to avoid squirrels cats dogs, tractors sheep and runners, and I'm not smart enough to know why cyclists get people so angry, but it is what it is. The cycling community can do a better job of creating awareness, we can get message out saying this is good for all of us. Forty years ago 40 per cent of kids rode bikes to school now it is three per cent. Why? Because parents are afraid.”

To hear the exchange click here