Luc Leblanc confesses. In a book retracing his entire career and his suffering, “Me, Lucho – The important thing is to stay alive”, the former runner hides nothing. Neither his money problems, nor his suicidal thoughts, nor his suffering since the car accident he suffered at only 12 years old and which cost the life of his little brother, aged 8. The native of Limoges also talks about his use of doping in 1994.
“I was at Festina at the time and went to see our doctor. I told him that I did not understand the transformation of certain teammates. Suddenly, I was dropped by guys who did not pass a bump. He explained to me that if I wanted to follow, I had to do like them. Otherwise, I was finished. I agreed to take some, before the Tour de France, to reduce fatigue in my body”he confided to himself in an interview with Parisian, adding: “But I didn’t want a dose that would have made me stronger. »
“However, it was a terrible case of conscience. A great psychological violence, he added. Even today, I don’t know if I was right or not. At the Festina trial in 2000, when I was only a witness, I told the judges to free my conscience. I know some in the industry will say after this interview that I still talk too much. But today, I need to tell everything. »
The statute of limitations was five years…
In the wake of Richard Virenque, who, faced with the evidence, had finally confessed to having doped on the first day of the Festina trial, Luc Leblanc had admitted to having used prohibited substances. A recourse to doping for the Tour de France, which he had completed in 4th place – his best career ranking, but also for the Vuelta, completed in 6th place, jersey of the best climber at the key. A few months later, Luc Leblanc became world champion in Sicily, writing the finest page of his career.
Despite his confession, Luc Leblanc retained his title. Consequence of the six years elapsed since his coronation when the prescription was then five years. Even Laurent Brochard, crowned three years earlier before also confessing, was not worried. The day of his victory, a backdated medical certificate had saved him from a disqualification for doping. A document that he was able to produce thanks to the complicity of the governing bodies of the French Cycling Federation and the International Cycling Union…
