Tyler Hamilton throws Lance Armstrong under the bike over doping on 60 Minutes (VIDEOS)

Michael Roberts May 23, 2011 7:13AM

Plenty of people have accused bike icon Lance Armstrong of doping, including Tour De Lance author Bill Strickland. But finger-pointing by Boulder-based Tyler Hamilton, Armstrong's onetime teammate on the U.S. Postal Service Team, has had the greatest impact by far, in part because of the platform he used: 60 Minutes, which last night aired a lengthy and damning exposé delivered by newly named CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley. See it and more below.

CBS clearly wants to make it as difficult as possible for Armstrong's camp to dismiss the report. Online extras also on view here include a special package about the assembling of the report and a special feature on Hamilton that focuses on his background -- including his willingness to pedal hurt. The subtext suggests that this isn't simply a cash grab on the part of Hamilton, whose career was essentially ended by positive blood tests, but a credible allegation capable of staining Armstrong's "Live Strong" motto with the bitterest irony.

Here's the two-part 60 Minutes report on Armstrong, who helped former governor Bill Ritter announce a new Colorado pro bike last August, followed by the aforementioned web extras:

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Michael Roberts has written for Westword since October 1990, serving stints as music editor and media columnist. He currently covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports and stories that defy categorization.

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