ESPN Films 30 for 30: Slaying the Badger TM6108

I had seen this production years ago, so when I recently saw it available on DVD I was happy to purchase it. Lance Armstrong did tremendous damage to Greg LeMond's reputation and business interests, including Greg LeMond bicycles, when he lambasted Greg for rightly saying that Armstrong had been doping. This was early-on during Armstrong's string of Tour de France "victories." Greg remained a vociferous critic of Armstrong despite what it cost him personally. Eventually, Lance Armstrong admitted he cheated proving Greg had been right all along.This video is a great re-telling of the story of probably the greatest genuine cycling talent to come out of the USA, ever. I also had an opportunity to ride a Greg LeMond bicycle in 2004, for several hours. To this day, it is still one of the finest production bicycles I have ever ridden. I am still kicking myself for not having bought it.Greg LeMond is a hero on many levels. This is his story.

A great video about the Tour. It tells the story of Greg's victory well, and includes interviews with Lemond, Hinault, Andy Hampsten, and director Paul Koechli. It highlights just how tough the victory was. It comes across with a very convincing multifaceted point of view, and genuinely attempts to explain what happened. It's interesting and fun to watch (unless maybe you are Hinault or Koechli superfan). It seemed to me to be that it must be about right, but at the same time I thought it was a little unfair to Koechli and Hinault. They could have been portrayed in a better light without taking anything away from the story. The film also covers Greg's youth and early cycling career. Doping in the peleton gets some discussion at the end with Greg's retirement The extra features are great, both Koechli and Hampsten's interviews are very worth watching. There are extended interviews with Greg at his home, so you get a better idea of what he is like.

Lemond remains a true American Hero. The Tour is so hard and the elements of chance, timing and training understandably tempt one to cheat. While Lance Armstrong was in fact a great athlete his moral failure was in lying to the public and in not acknowledging gratitude for a near miraculous cure from his malignancy. Greg and Cathy Lemond are straight up...what you see is what they are. Hinault was also a great athlete perhaps closer to Eddy Merckx than any other rider ever but has that shifty eye and worldly wit that is ever ready to feint and then attack when you don't expect it. Andy Hampsten's interview is most revealing and his humility is impressive. Professional cycling will always be a gritty and wonderful sport but the price the riders pay is too high.

Epic Tour de France events. The battle between the seasoned iconic Frenchman and the talented up and coming American. Lemond on the verge of winning the hardest test of physical athletics being restricted to let the legendary Hinault win his 5th and possibly record setting 6th Tour. Anguish, misingenuous statements, lack of defined leadership and self ambitions all collide on the roads of France. Deep insights from the riders, family, team directors and journalists present a varied point of views for you to decide what was the ture motivations of these titans of the race of races.

Great stuff. Behind the scenes drama of cycling at its best. It only increases my upmost respect for Greg LeMond, one of the very few post-war cyclists to have won the Tour ‘clean’. Gotta love Hinault, too, even though he was a great big Mr. Meany-Pants. Well-produced documentary, too.

Really enjoyed the video about the LeMond-Hinault battle of teammates during the 1986 Tour de France. LeMond sacrificed his chances to win the previous year for Hinault and Hinault in turn promised to work for LeMond the following year. Hinault then reneged and was constantly attacking trying to win his record 6th TdF victory in 1986. LeMond was able to overcome this and win. I also read the book shortly after watching the video and the book understandably was able to go into much more detail with all the back stories behind the scenes.

Greg could have won in 1985 but he was on the wrong team, 1986 got the yellow jersey in the best way, would have won in 1987 and 1988 but got shot, 1989 what a win by 8 seconds, 1990 repeat, but after that EPO, that would have been six yellow. I got to meet with Greg at a race in Redlands CA, what a nice guy a winner all the way and a great model for American cycling. All the best to a true sportsman. BTW the movie was very (well done!)

I first came across this on Netfilx and after watching it a few times I decided I need to own it. Some amazing footage and history of both Lemond and the Badger told absolutely perfectly. One of the best cycling films I've ever seen.

Wanted this for ages. Fleshes out the book nicely.

El documental en entrevista a Greg Lemond es muy interesante por el relato de sus vivencias combinada con las imágenes reales de los acontecimientos. La trama que se torna hace de este relato algo muy emocionante para todo tipo de audiencia. Obviamente para los amantes del ciclismo es algo icónico.

Wohl die beste positive Radsportdokumentation die es gibt! Mit einem kurzen Blick wie und in welchem Ausmaß es danach dunkel wurde. Interviews mit den Hauptdarstellern: Grundehrliche Liebe, Begeisterung und Freundschaft. Mit diesem Spirit leben die heute noch.Achtung: Regionalcode für Amerika. - Wenn der DVD-Player das nicht schafft, dann ist es nur am PC abspielbar.

Allerdings macht es Sinn, zuvor das deutlich detailierte Buch gelesen zu haben.Hinault und Köchli kommen hier noch schlechter weg, als ich nach dem Buch den Eindruck hatte.

RAS