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May 22, 2011 6:51 PM

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Who is Tyler Hamilton?

By: Overtime Staff
Topics: Overtime Original

In a sport recently dominated by Lance Armstrong, Tyler Hamilton still managed to make a name for himself as a world-class cyclist, tough competitor, and valued teammate. But outside the cycling community, how many people knew about Hamilton before now?

"60 Minutes Overtime" tells Hamilton's story: how an unlucky break introduced him to cycling, his relationship with Lance Armstrong while they were teammates on the legendary U.S. Postal Service team, and what Hamilton hopes his legacy will be in the riding world.

Tyler Hamilton says one day he'll be thanked for what he's revealed about the high-pressure culture of cheating in cycling. What do you think? Hero or villain?

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by bstauf June 13, 2011 2:03 AM EDT: Does anyone see this as a sort of "Texas two step".. Thru the interview he couldn't directly answer the questions, could not look into eyes always around and down at his feet.
I have been an athlete and have been asked to take a variety things to help me improve. I didn't and got left behind. But as far as doping goes you would have to start back to like the start of pro sports. Its been around for a long time.
The problem I have is that there are a few people that become Iconic in the world. For sports Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, heck even Tiger Woods will be when he is done. Its not just what they do in the sport but what they do outside to extend the sport and improve our lives even for a little bit while they are around.
The people who are against Mr. Armstrong why? To be honest would you be watching cycling today if it was not for him and Lemond.
I am proud to have seen athletes of his caliber.. If he broke a law, well he will have to sort that out, i have my own worries. But enough must we all believe that people when the do great things are frauds and liars cause we want to believe that the rest of the world is as mediocre as us.
Celebrate him for what he did. His personal life oh well that is his. For me thanks Lance for all you have done. Thanks for being the man you are and helping millions and providing me with great entertainment. Oh, and yes I'll still wear the yellow bracelet. Give 'em hell. Tyler I have nothing for sad the way you seem to be gaining off your 15 min of fame. If Lance gets in trouble why do you get immunity for doing the same thing?; Reply to this comment


by Devil_maid June 1, 2011 1:49 PM EDT: Some basic observations by a person who has dealt with people trying to fabricate the truth. First we look at motive and timing. Tyler's motivation is many faceted. His being the guy wanting to come clean after all these years just sohappens to follow being caught doping a # of times to which finally got him banned from the sport into retirement age. So basically, he has nothing to lose, since he has lost all respect in the world of cycling. Secondly, he is suffering from depression and is clearly on some type of dope now perhaps to treat it, as can be seen by his body language, delayed responses, and speech. His method of speaking also does not build much confidence in what he is laboring to say. Tyler Hamilton is a broken, washed up man, who once defined his purpose in life through his cycling accomplishments and the friends he kept. Now he has nothing and even gave back his Olympic medal becasue he knows he is a cheater and liar. How can we believe a man who has told the world nothing but lies up to this point. Get medical and psychological help Tyler, and stop taking your depression and guilt of betrayal out on athletes who different than you, never had a dirty drug test.

Lance may be desrvingly arrogant at times, and has not made all the right choices as far as his recovery, family and life has gone, but to win that mind and body blowing race 7 times erases all doubt of how hard he has worked, how clean he is, and how blessed he must be.; Reply to this comment


by desol333 May 31, 2011 1:59 AM EDT: Armstrong is a a liar and a con-artist...even if hamilton is traitor, tattle tale, snake. There all bad...know why?

Money.

I'd bet armstrong has threatened his fair share of people on the side. I feel bad for lance, he's been lying so long he believes himself. Acting like such a hero to all those cancer people, talkin righteous, anti-doping...lol...what a full load.
Let's hear about all the dirty side-deals lance. Sure he's good at riding a bike but not nearly as good as those drugs make you. Oh yes, on those killer climbs pulling killer times.

Armstrong, if you have any balls you'll follow hamilton's false lead. Ha. What a circus...; Reply to this comment

by awillabq May 25, 2011 6:12 PM EDT

Hamilton need confess nothing. He has three, post-postal, positive drug test to his name. He is currently serving a seven year suspension which at his age has ended his career. That's something few pro cyclists ever achieve.

Just a bit dubious about his not doping prior to Lance.

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by masiguy May 27, 2011 7:56 AM EDT: Hamilton is telling an inconvenient and "shocking" truth only because he was finally forced to either risk jail time or finally come clean. His shame at the Faustian bargain he bought into comes through clearly in the interview.

There is a long tradition in professional European cycling of using legal and illegal supplements to help performance but '80s top champions (Fignon, LeMond, Roche) could still win clean. EPO's unprecedented power practically required a fierce competitor in the mid'90s to take it or give up hopes of winning. One thing Armstrong is not is a quitter, the logic was inescapable. Don't blame Hamilton / Landis / Kimmage et al just read the available literature.


by tbopps May 25, 2011 12:40 PM EDT: Mr. Hamilton deserves alot of credit for coming forward. It's hard to imagine how difficult that must have been for him, and how tormented he's been about it all. I believe him fully - what he's had to sacrifice to come clean on all this gives him credibility.

Lance has proved that he's a first-class liar and cheat. The fact that they doped, in a sport where it's evidently very common, doesn't seem quite as damaging as the lies that followed.

I didn't know about Mr. Hamilton before because I'm not a bicycling fan. But I like him - his low-key demeanor, his honesty and the reluctance to snitch on his teammates which gave him such angnst - makes him a very compelling person.

Mr. Hamilton, thank you. You're right - this will eventually help the sport. I hope you don't suffer too much because of your courage to come forward.; Reply to this comment

by swrolling May 23, 2011 1:25 PM EDT

Aside from the issue of lie vs. truth, if everyone else took PEDS then it's a level playing field for the elite of each team. Thus, Lance is still one of the greatest cyclists and athletes of all time.

As for the comment that cycling is boring, then why did you waste your valuable time to pursue this story? I guess your time isn't that valuable. I could say the same of any other sport of which I don't appreciate because I'm that ignorant of it. Lacrosse and motor sports could be boring too for the person who doesn't know anything about it. When you cycle yourself, you understand and appreciate those who do at a professional level. Leave your ignorance out of it.

I don't want to believe Tyler any more than anyone else who admires these athletes and the sport. But agreeing or disagreeing doesn't change the truth and truth doesn't need any defending. If it's true, it's sad and that's the way it is, very unfortunately.

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by MaestroTX May 23, 2011 4:06 PM EDT: Anyone who thinks cycling is boring should have watched the test of strength and wills up Mt. Ventoux last weekend at the Giro D'Italia. Moreover, they should do some competitive or even friendly group riding: there are so many lessons to be learned about life you would not beleive it. Longterm allegiances, temporary allies, taking your turn up front and pulling for your teamates, achieving more with a group of peers of similar skill and motivation than you can possibly do on your own, yet striking out on your own when you are strong and at the oportune time as long as you accurately gauge your capabilities. I played many, many sports both team and individual and cycling is one of the biggest challenges and rushes out there.


by jamrider May 23, 2011 11:42 AM EDT: I've watched this story develop for over 15 years, have ridden in Europe and talked with riders who rode on pro teams and were part of the problem. Anyone who believes that a) the sport of cycling (and a lot of other sports) are without banned performance enhancing drugs and b) that Lance Armstrong did not use performance enhancing drugs, is deluding themselves. Its sad, primarily for all those folks that believe in the good work that the Livestrong organization has done. It is time, however, for the truth to come out and to clean up a beautiful sport. This is a step in the right direction, but it will take consistent action and for sponsors to turn off the money tap and fans to turn away from dirty sports to finally clean up cycling and a lot of other sports. Its sad to watch Tyler Hamilton bare his soul, but long overdue for him and the sport.; Reply to this comment

by bwestbroker May 23, 2011 10:50 AM EDT

This whole story is very disheartening.I don't feel that Tyler is lying..I feel that he wishes this wasn't happening.After he laid out what the pitfalls are for him if he is found to be dishonest..I doubt that he would take that risk.What's really sad is that the nature of sports has changed so much over the years.it isn't just about who can do the sport anymore.Now it's about all the behind the scenes finagling with enhancers to "improve" the participants.Other countries haven't the restrictions that American sports tries to uphold.It would be wonderful if ALL countries could just go back to athletes doing the job WITHOUT any enhancements..but I doubt that will ever happen again.Considering the biggest obstacle that Lance had to overcome..cancer...I admire his tenacity..but I wish he hadn't gotten sucked into this the way so many have in so many other sports.

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by DrooBlood June 3, 2011 12:33 AM EDT: " What's really sad is that the nature of sports has changed so much over the years."

In 1886 a cyclist died from an overdose of trimethyl. In the early 20th century cyclists routinely used strychnine to gain muscle power. Heroin, cocaine, and caffeine were used widely until heroin and cocaine became available only on prescription. During the 1930's it was Amphetamines that replaced strychnine.

by adfriedmanusmc May 23, 2011 8:54 AM EDT

Tyler Hamilton is a liar. You can tell in his interview. He is just trying to save his own ass. I hate liars like that. He was your teammate and you just snitched on him. Great work.

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by zimzee May 23, 2011 10:23 AM EDT: Tyler was nervous and felt guilty for speaking up. That is why he kept looking away and grimacing. He was telling the truth, but was ashamed that he was implicating a cycling friend. Also, Tyler didn't just come out and speak this out of nowhere. He was subpoenaed last year by the U.S. grand jury to give testimony regarding the doping investigation of Armstrong.

IMHO, Tyler was torn in keeping his doping secrets vs telling the truth, as he, like Lance, also has a charity foundation to support, and didn't want to disappoint his large share of fans as well. The subpoena gave him that push to speak the truth and admit to doping, which Tyler said was a huge sigh of relief. He certainly could've continued his denial of doping during the testimony, but I think his good conscience got the best of him and he fessed up.

As an amateur cyclist and triathlete since the 90's, I had been following both Tyler Hamilton and Lance Armstrong since then, as they were both great athletes whom I admired for their hard workout ethics. Tyler had the reputation of being "one of the nicest guys in cycling" while Lance was "cocky" but highly talented. (I've read Lance's books, and in fact he does come across as being rather self-centered and arrogant. I recommend you read them and judge for yourself.)

Certainly, I'm very disappointed that Tyler doped, as well as having denied it for years. But I still admire him for having the courage to come out and admit to doping after being put on such a high pedestal by his fans -- a much harder feat to speak the truth IMO than continuing to lie. Although he may lose many supporters, he's proven to me that he's regained his strength to admit to his faults and correct them as best he can.

by tonynace May 23, 2011 7:44 AM EDT

I don't know if Armstrong did or didn't use PEDs. In all the interviews I've seen with him, he's categorically denied it and seems believable, looking people in the eyes. Hamilton, on the other hand, does not. He's been granted immunity and has a book deal in the works, so his motives are suspect. During the interview, if anyone else noticed, his eyes kept darting about, never staying focused on the interviewer for too long. I don't know what psychologists would say, but that seems like a sign of lying to me.

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by zimzee May 23, 2011 10:25 AM EDT: See my comment above to adfriedmanusmc. His eyes kept darting about because it was a sign of guilt and shame -- admirable qualities of someone with a good conscience.


by tonynace May 24, 2011 9:31 AM EDT: I don't agree with your call, that it was a sign of guilt and shame. I think it's more an indication of lying. And just because Armstrong may be cocky does not automatically mean he did PEDs. Lots of top athletes in all sports exhibit this trait. You almost have to be to be at the top.

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