Johannesburg – Former professional cyclist Malcolm Lange claims in his new book that he spent most of his career racing domestically after escaping the doping trend in Europe.
Lange, who retired in 2011, launched his book, “Is Winning Everything?”, in Johannesburg on Tuesday night.
“Many critics said that I was too soft and unable to succeed in Europe, but I won at least 20 races in three seasons in Europe as an amateur between 1993 and 1995,” Lange writes.
“When I turned professional for a Belgian team in 1996 I realised what I was up against.
“If I wanted to be chasing podium places consistently in Europe, I would have to adopt a win-at-all-costs approach, which meant putting my health and my integrity at risk and start doping. That wasn't an option for me.”
The 39-year-old Lange won all of South Africa's most prestigious road races – the Cape Argus, the 94.7 Challenge, and the Amashova – at least once.
Vocal against doping during his lengthy professional career, Lange said he would donate R10 from the sale of each copy of his book to the South African Institute for Drug-free Sport. – Sapa