In a rare and candid interview, José Azevedo, a former teammate of the infamous Lance Armstrong, opened up about his time racing alongside the American cyclist during the peak of his career. Azevedo, who was part of Armstrong’s US Postal Service team during the early 2000s, shared his thoughts on the notorious doping scandal that tainted Armstrong’s legacy and ultimately led to his downfall.

As one of the most respected cyclists in the world during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Armstrong’s story was, for many, one of triumph over adversity. He survived cancer, returned to the sport, and became a seven-time winner of the Tour de France. However, it wasn’t until years later that Armstrong’s fall from grace began, as allegations of performance-enhancing drug use clouded his illustrious achievements.

Azevedo, who rode with Armstrong on his team from 2001 to 2005, was often in the background, focusing on his own performance while playing a key support role for Armstrong during those Tour victories. Yet, despite the cloud of suspicion that surrounded Armstrong for years, Azevedo insists that he never witnessed any doping firsthand and only learned of Armstrong’s confession through the media.

“I did my job, I am proud of what I did in my career. What happened, happened to him,” Azevedo stated in the interview. “If I know today that Lance consumed banned substances, it’s because he said so. I never saw it. I never saw anything that could lead me to believe that he was doping.”

The Trust Between Teammates: Azevedo’s Experience

Reflecting on his relationship with Armstrong, Azevedo described their bond as one based on mutual respect and trust. As a key member of the team, Azevedo’s job was to help Armstrong succeed, whether it was through pacing him up the mountains, providing protection in the peloton, or ensuring that the team’s tactics were executed flawlessly. There was no reason for him to question Armstrong’s behavior or preparation — after all, doping was not part of the public conversation in the way it is today.

Azevedo, who hails from Portugal, explained that during the early 2000s, cycling was a sport with a dark and complex underbelly. Yet, the entire environment around him was focused on winning, with little room for introspection on the ethics of the sport. Like many professional cyclists at the time, Azevedo adhered to the assumption that everyone in the peloton was working to their best ability. He, himself, was never under any suspicion, nor did he personally know anything about any illicit practices occurring within the team.

“We were just focused on doing our job, each of us playing a part in the overall strategy,” Azevedo reflected. “Lance had his role, and I had mine. My job was to help him win, and we focused on the race, not the rumors that were swirling around us.”

Armstrong’s dominance during his Tour de France victories was nearly unparalleled, with the American rider establishing himself as a legend in the sport. Throughout these victories, the US Postal Service team, with riders like Azevedo, worked tirelessly to support Armstrong’s ambitions. The public image of Armstrong at the time was that of a clean athlete, a hero who had overcome the ultimate challenge: cancer. Azevedo, like many others, believed in that narrative at the time.

The Doping Allegations: A Personal Revelation

It wasn’t until much later that Azevedo learned the full extent of Armstrong’s involvement in doping. In 2013, Armstrong famously confessed to Oprah Winfrey that he had used performance-enhancing drugs during all of his Tour de France victories, which ultimately led to his being stripped of those titles. While many of Armstrong’s teammates and colleagues in the cycling world had their suspicions, Azevedo was one of the few who remained steadfast in his belief that he had never seen anything that could suggest his teammate was doping.

“I never saw it, never suspected it, and never knew about it until Lance admitted it himself,” Azevedo insisted. “It’s a strange feeling to think back and realize that something so big was happening under your nose without you knowing. But, I can only speak for my own experience.”

For Azevedo, the knowledge that Armstrong had confessed to doping was both shocking and disheartening. However, he was quick to emphasize that he did not regret his time racing alongside the American cyclist. He maintained that his personal integrity remained intact, and he had never crossed any ethical lines. Azevedo believed that while the sport of cycling as a whole was marred by doping, he had stayed true to his principles.

“I’m proud of my career,” Azevedo said. “I never did anything wrong, I never used any banned substances. I raced clean, and I did my best every single day.”

Azevedo’s comments offer a unique perspective on the doping era in cycling, shedding light on the sense of confusion and betrayal that many riders, who were not directly involved in doping, must have felt when the truth came out. As the sport continues to struggle with its past, Azevedo’s story serves as a reminder of how pervasive the culture of doping was during that time.

Azevedo’s Post-Career Reflection

Since retiring from professional cycling in 2010, Azevedo has remained active in the cycling community, working as a director for the Portuguese team, Team RadioShack, and continuing to contribute to the development of cycling talent. However, the shadow of Armstrong’s scandal continues to follow many who were involved in that era.

When asked about his thoughts on the current state of cycling, Azevedo spoke with optimism, noting that the sport has come a long way since the dark days of doping. In recent years, cycling has introduced more stringent anti-doping measures, and the sport has seen a new wave of clean athletes rising to the top.

“Cycling has changed,” Azevedo said. “It’s cleaner now, and the riders who are competing at the highest level are doing so without the same risks and temptations that we had to face. There is still work to be done, but I believe the future of the sport is much brighter.”

Despite the pain of seeing a teammate, and friend, unravel publicly, Azevedo remains philosophical about the events of the past. While Armstrong’s confession cast a long shadow over cycling, Azevedo believes that the legacy of clean athletes will ultimately define the future of the sport.

Legacy and Lessons Learned

Azevedo’s reflection on his career and his time alongside Armstrong offers a sobering look at the complexity of professional cycling during an era when doping was rampant. He was candid about the difficulties of reconciling the success of his career with the truth that came out years later. But, at the end of the day, Azevedo’s story is one of personal integrity and professionalism.

“I didn’t get involved in any of that,” he reiterated. “I did my job, and I am proud of what I did in my career. What happened, happened to him, not to me. I can look back on my time in the sport with my head held high.”

For those who look back on Armstrong’s era, Azevedo’s words are a reminder of the blurry line between success and scandal and the complex relationships that exist within the world of professional sports. Through it all, one thing is clear: José Azevedo remains proud of his contributions to the sport of cycling and stands as an example of a rider who held his integrity intact during one of cycling’s most turbulent chapters.