Miguel Indurain as he is known to his fans Big Mig is one of the most controversial cyclists in history. He used epic methods to win in 1991 to 1995 Tour de France and been the crush of the people with a legendary performance in 1995 Cycling World Championships Road. This is the story of the super climber Miguel Indurain Early Days. Want to know what happened? We’ll know more cycling tops, from road cycling news, cycling stories, British cycling, road cycling and More road cycling transfer news today on Cycling StorieS #Cycling, #Sports, #Doping
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For some people, Big Mig was a cheater, and for you? Leave it in the comments!
The Classiest of the doping legions.
I believe he was on EPO and had to be on EPO to compete in that era. But the Salbutamol positive test was a set up by the French to discredit him. Normally a positive test covered by a TUE wouldn't even be communicated. And Salbutamol was nothing then and is nothing now. A pathetic attempt to discredit him which didn't work. Because the proper juice that him and most other riders were on wasn't detectable at the time.
Indurain did not dope
I can't imagine that he didn't dope. The Banesto team was a high speed train, setting paces, at the time, that were crazy. But it was an era where many doped. That said, Indurain was a hell of a champion. The best time trialist I ever saw. He won 2 Giro d'italia, and only 4 stages, all 4 being the time trials.
What a load of crap
You tube needs to shut this clown down
if lemond says he cheated, he cheated.
I understand some people's suggestion that it was suspicious for a big guy like Indurain to be so good in the mountains, but I disagree. I remember that era well and the big change came after that. Indurain was a good climber, but it was far from his forte. His tactic was to gain as much time as possible in the time trail and try to defend it in the mountains as best he could. What came after that was unbelivable to me as a keen cycling fan. Armstrong, Froome and a couple of the current lads are superhuman compared to Indurain. They win the time trials, they dominate in the mountains, they can do it all, to a much greater extent that Indurain. I realise he also had a few epic performances in the mountains over the years, but they were the exception.
Two more points: the idea that the fact he came 3rd in the Giro somehow proves or strongly suggests doping is prettty weak. Also, if salbutemol is allowed but frowned upon, a positive result is not doping.
The 1990's was infected with EPO. Seriously doubt he was clean. Like Greg LeMond once said, it doesn't matter in how good of a shape a rider is, he'll never beat other riders that are on EPO
It’s more probable than not that there has never been a truly clean Tour winner
All were on something
Hampsten raced on Indurain's team and gave an account of a shouting match where they threatened him if he didn't fall in line and dope.
He was 100% a doper and a boring watch.
All Spanish atheltes from 1980's onwards were part of their government doping programme. Few got caught.
Anyone who believes that any of the champions were (and still are) clean is just delusional. It's part of the sport and wil always be.
Give Lance back his 7 TDF where he whooped the arses of everyone – 7 times in a row!!
I don’t care. I’ve come to the conclusion, that if you don’t like doping in cycling then simply don’t watch. Choose another sport, maybe lawn bowls, because if you think every other sport is clean, then you’re delusional.
If it's all predicated on a lie, how do you honestly keep any self-respect and dignity? Values have been thorn out the window. That is what I hate the most about sport nowadays. This is not fair play.
I couldn't stand that guy..pure Doper….the most boring devious sneaky bastard ever in cycling..his 5 tour wins were like watching paint dry…..
He was a doper everyone knows that
Of course he doped. Everyone in the professional circuit dopes. Do you think any unenhanced rider can ride at the distances an speeds that those guys do for three straight weeks? Dream on.
Best cyclist of his generation. ❤
Finally….
Did they take Miguel’s yellow jerseys like they did Lance
Ur not winning any grand tour clean
salbutamol clears your sinuses let's you breathe through your nose… it's not about it being a stimulant, cyclists perform better when they breathe better
Why do you believe in the concept of a "Performance Enhancing Drug"? Do you want to talk real Biology or just the usual bullshit? Are you really anti-doping or just another hyperbole spouting attention seeker?
Ok, I already know the answer, so what are you going to do about it? Just keep on repeating the same stuff over and over?
He was 78 kg at his lightest, he could torture 56kg climbers in the mountains. He could kill off a rider like Marco Pantani (22kg lighter) with no real stress. Climbing is physics. I refer you to Johan Bryneel, during his break with Indurain into Liege he described it as “being behind a motorcycle”.
I been saying this since 2005! Doper
I always was a fan of Big Mig, he was a quiet giant in the sport where everyone competing for the GC was doping. I remain a fan.
To me , he was a natural , may have used dope, however , history has proved all his rivals were fully doped . Leave it alone, it was a time in history, move on now a days, probably still just as much dope, although possibly more sophisticated !!
If you think about it, if armstrong would have kept his mouth shut, he would have been still on top of the world. But he had to go back after 5 wins and do more. If he would have just kept it five wins, the tour de france would have been happy to leave him alone. But armstrong had to have more. UCI could not let that happen. They could not let a united states person have more championships, than a european champion.
Indurain TDF results. 1985 did not finish. 1986 did not finish. 1987 did not finish. 1988 47th. 1989 17th. He was a nobody until he took EPO. Greg Lemond 1st TDF in 1984, took 3rd place, he was always near the top until everyone started taking EPO. Suddenly Lemond and Fignon (2x TDF champion) couldn't keep up with the Peloton.
He juiced like the others. He's no clean rider.
Al contrario,los demás tenían que dopare para poder ganar una persona superdotado con un corazón mas grande de lo normal,no inventen bulos falsos como con Contador para poder quitarle del medio del tour.Lo mismo pasaron deportistas Españoles como Rafael Nadal que le hacían conroles consecutivos para encontrar cualquier escusa para quitárselo de la competición Francesa 🖕 tenemos los cojones bien puestos
I repeat, if you have ever seen MD in person on the bike on a slow climb you will really see his physiognomy how he was so good. He was in another league musculature wise compared to the scrawny climbers around him and you just don't see that on tv. You can see how that power translated in to TT prowess and in the mountains he never blew anyone away only defend his position. Plus Miguel was never a showman like Armstrong who would have done anything to win. If MD had to dope to the gills he would have stopped cycling for sure, which is actually what he did after the Gewiss team went doping crazy.
Doped to the gills, but a great guy, easy to like on all levels!
An excellent episode ❤
MI cheated, no doubt. Otherwise he couldn't have given the entire doped field beat-downs, 5 years consecutively! Equally disgusting is the UCI turning a blind eye to all things doping, including motor doping, even now (2025).
you dont in a 11 yr career start winning in your last 4 or 5 yrs while being just average more most of your career
they all take something wtf already
If nothing else, he wasn't mean or indeed a greedy champion.
The Cyclist from spain look like white sheeps but , are they?
You manipulate what Indurain said. He did not say what you said. You are just jealous and spiteful and have no substance to back up your theory because that’s what it is, a theory based on no facts to back it up.
Can’t stand bs’ accent and/or voice, the majority of media’ people should use artificial voice program or whatever they call it, peace
From Dom to GC in about a year ! MIG was a steroid user in the off season and EPO and testosterone during the racing season ! this guy poped in many tests he had to stop using as they were closing in and his results were incrediblely bad , the Mig was middle pack at best ! also his physical appearance (he was smaller !)
He was supposed to have huge lungs, channel 4,were always saying that,
Not true
That he maintains the LIE only makes him more despicable