Conflicts With Armstrong and Trek
According to the USADA 2012 doping report, based on affidavits by Frankie and Betsy Andreu, in 2001 Lance Armstrong reacted to LeMond's negative comments about doctor Michele Ferrari and Armstrong by saying he would "take him down" and that he could call Trek's owner and "shut him up".
According to a 2012 Outside story by Armstrong assistant Mike Anderson, Armstrong said he would “put LeMond out of business” over comments about him and Ferrari.
In March 2008, LeMond Cycling Inc prepared a lawsuit against Trek, accusing them of bowing to pressure from "third parties" to "wind down" his brand through lack of distribution and promotion, especially in the European market. The complaint also says that "Since 2001, Trek has systematically sought to silence Mr. LeMond's right to make comments that constitute an informed and honest opinion on matters of legitimate public interest - the problems associated with the use of performance enhancing substances". For example,
- In 2001, shortly after LeMond made negative comments about doping doctor Michele Ferrari and Lance Armstrong, the complaint alleges that "Trek contacted Mr. LeMond to notify him that Mr. LeMond's comments in the article upset Mr. Armstrong".
- The complaint states that in 2001 John Burke of Trek contacted LeMond and "wanted Mr LeMond to issue a statement that had been drafted for him" regarding the Armstrong/Ferrari comments, and that if a suitable press release was not made, "Mr. Armstrong would sever his relationship with Trek and Mr. LeMond's relationship with Trek would suffer."
- LeMond "acquiesced to allow the release of a public statement that restated his views regarding Dr. Ferrari" but the statement was printed in USA Today as though it were an interview.
- In 2004 after LeMond's interview with a French newspaper where he made negative comments about Armstrong, Trek claimed that LeMond was in breach of the "Moral turpitude" section of their business agreement.
- LeMond was disinvited from the 2006 Trek dealer show, and not invited to the 2007 dealer show nor the 2007 Trek 100 charity ride.
LeMond talked about some of these issues in a 2012 interview with the Irish radio program NewsTalk as well.
Trek responded to the lawsuit in 2008 by suing to sever business ties with LeMond. Trek's press release said that "LeMond’s suit was characterized by Burke as containing false and irresponsible allegations ". Burke also said "for years, Greg LeMond has done and said things that have damaged the LeMond brand and the Trek brand as a whole". . . . "His actions are inconsistent with our values—values we believe in and live everyday. And after years of trying to make it work, we are done."
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