Cyclist’s memorabilia stays on show at UL
DESPITE Lance Armstrong having been stripped of his seven Tour de France winning titles because of doping charges, Limerick physical therapist, Ger Hartmann, has vowed not to strip any of the memorabilia presented to him by the disgraced cyclist from the floor of the Hartmann Collection at UL.
On display are shoes, sun glasses, a watch and gloves worn by Armstrong on one of his Tour de France wins, and personally donated to the Limerickman when they met after the 2004 Olympics, in New Mexico.
Said Hartmann: “I value all the items, but the one which really stands out is a bicycle which he pedalled in those Olympics. It weighs only 15lbs and was shipped here”.
When asked if he had second thoughts about continuing to display the Armstrong gifts now that the cyclist’s reputation lies in tatters, he replied:
“No, I have not even considered it. Lance is something of an enigma.
“I have no doubt but that he crossed the line and was part of a systematic and very scientific system of performance enhancing drug use. He was part of a culture that was professional cycling at the time, and within the peloton the use of performance enhancing substances was the norm.
“Nonetheless, he brought joy to the world – to win the Tour de France seven years in-a-row was a wonderful achievement. Think of the time, dedication and training he had to put in.
“From a moral and ethical point of view, I deplore athletes who take drugs.
“However, it is well documented that his Tour de France competitors also took drugs. Lance stuck to his guns when the accusations were flying around about him…the fact is, he never tested positive.
“I question the policing system.
If a security system is top notch, how then do banks get broken into”.
When it was put to Hartmann that Armstrong- also banned from the sport for life- refused to co-operate after four former team-mates were about to testify against him as part of the United States Anti Doping Agency investigation, he responded:
“Look, the man battled against cancer and had all kinds of allegations levelled against him…there is only so much a person can take. The time came, I suppose, when he wanted to get on with life”.
Hartmann and Armstrong remain friends since they first crossed paths in 2004, when he was a consultant to sports firm NIKE, and Armstrong was sponsored by them.
“When I told him about the sports museum that I planned to set up in Limerick, he offered me all the items on display at UL. I didn’t have to ask him. We met at six Olympic Games.
“As I said, the Armstrong bike-together with accessories- is very important to me and I don’t see any reason why I should hide it away, or for that matter, any of the other items.
“Eleven million dollars was spent in the technology and design that went into that type of bike.
“Even though there were question marks over Lance for years, his gifts to the museum remain sought out and viewed by visitors, and I have no doubt will continue to do so”.
