Documentary Movie Reviews

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Slaying the Badger (2014)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 3/15, 9/25

9/25: Slaying the Badger is an absorbing documentary about the rivalry between Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault during the Tour de France.

Greg Lemond had been a mythical name in the lore of cycling because he was the only American who won the Tour de France and three times at that. I followed the Tour every July since OLN (or Versus or whatever the hell it's called now) began covering it extensively. It grew popular when Lance Armstrong started winning consecutively.

Then, there was a lot of mudslinging going on, tarnishing Greg LeMond's image. Honestly, at the time, I didn't know what to think since I had no facts to rely on. Toward the end of Lance Armstrong's run of seven Tour victories, the din had gotten louder and louder that he cheated. It sounded inconceivable to me, and then, to the surprise of everyone, the cat came out of the bag. Everything that Lance Armstrong had accomplished turned out to be the greatest sporting fraud ever which led to the restoration of Greg LeMond's name and legacy.

After completing Slaying the Badger, I now have more respect for Greg LeMond who really did it without cheating which is an amazing feat given the state of Tour de Farce, an event that I've refused to watch anymore for two decades now. The story between Greg LeMond and Bernard Hinault is quite interesting to listen to.

All in all, Greg Lemond is a true champion while Lance Armstrong is the biggest fraud ever.

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