The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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Spin control
Dear VeloNews,
I can understand NicolaSemboloni’s dismay at Armstrong’s recent retelling of the Simeoniincident. I recall hearing a very different story from even Armstrongon OLN during the tour. Am I wrong about that? Whatever thetruth may be, I can tell you for sure that it came across to this readeras a bizarre attempt at revisionist spin control.I think Armstrong would have been much better served by simply stayingmum on the subject until it’s all settled and done.
Sincerely,
Steve Rempel
Los Altos CaliforniaJail time? For what?
Dear Velo,
First I have question for the VN legal team. How is it that Lance Armstrongcan be sued in Italy for something that happend in France and on top ofthat it is a civil suit so how is it he could get jail time?Second in Defense of Armstrong. I'd like to say that Miguel Crow shouldget his facts straight before he starts spouting off about LA. Lance isinnocent. Get over it already people. Heras is innocent too. I don’t thinkthese guys would do all this riding and training to win just to be cheater.The cheats never win. That’s a fact.Sure they may beat everyone to the finish line a couple of times, butnever in the long run. And Miguel Crow, Get your fricken facts straight.The evidence shows there are too many protocols that were broken for itto be true. Both Heras’ and Armstrong’s Drug test results were releasedto the media before they were to the alleged guilty party. Major violationsthere, if it went to court in the U.S. it would be thrown out cause ofthe fact that the client confidentiality was broken.Now on to better things, I'm looking forward to this next season ofracing. TDG is gearing up to be great with its new UCI ranking and Thespring classics should be great as well.
Fred Boettcher
Chattanooga, TennesseeThe need to denigrate?
Dear Editors,
Why is it that we wish our heroes to fail? Why does our societywant so badly for the winner to be a loser? I read letters all thetime claiming that Lance doped, and that everyone that surrounds him dopes.How do they know, what magical memo did they receive?Why is it so hard to celebrate someone’s greatness when we would rathersee him or her fail? I am a fan of cycling, through the good andbad, and we have all seen many athletes ruined due to irresponsible andpoor media coverage.Imagine how hard it would be to be an athlete today when at first yousucceed, you better soak it up, because we want you to fail! Theremay be an entire country that hates Lance, and millions of people who thinkhe cheated. Why, because he won, because where there is smoke thereis fire? Folks usually where there is smoke there is some idiot playingwith matches.When Lance comes out and says, “Hey sorry folks I cheated” then I willcall him a cheater. Until then I will just refer to him as champion!
David Bradley
Fishers, Indiana

Time to move on
Editor,
Lance feels he is a victim of the French? Poor Lance, poor, poorLance. Give me a break. VeloNews, move on, please!!!
Douglas D. Penner
Albuquerque, New MexicoOkay. - EditorAnother close call
Dear VeloNews,
BelemGuerrero 2004 Olympic points race silver medal was hit by a carthis morning while training at Zinacantepec, México. She suffereda broken collarbone and lost consciousness. Fortunately, she's out of danger.For sure there is a latent problem for all of us who practice road cycling;and I think UCI, should promote internationally respect to cycling enthusiasts
Flavio Gabaldon
Chihuahua, Mexico

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The Mailbag is a regular feature on VeloNews.com. If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.