AUSTIN, TEXAS (KXAN) - For more than a decade, Austin regarded Lance Armstrong as a hometown hero.
In 2001 Austin threw a huge public celebration on Auditorium Shores to welcome home Armstrong after his 3rd Tour de France. Armstrong still lives in Austin, and his name and image is known all around the Capital City.
Following the news of Armstrong's confession we wanted to know if the city of Austin is considering changing the name of the bike path named after him. which runs along Cesar Chavez St. City officials say for now there are no plans to rename the Lance Armstrong Bikeway.
Mayor Lee Leffingwell told KXAN, "As for the Lance Armstrong Bikeway, we have not heard any outcry from the cycling community or the public at large in Austin to change the name, and I know of no plans to do so." He also called Armstrong a personal friend, a friend to Austin, and a hero to millions of cancer survivors and their families.
Many in Austin's cycling community are not calling for change either.
Nelo Breda runs a cycling shop in northwest Austin. The former Brazilian cyclist and coach came to the Austin in the late 1980s and met Lance Armstrong. Some 20 years later, Armstrong's jerseys hang on his store walls. Breda says he supports him and his decision to come clean.
"I think it's a great thing he's come to the news," Breda said.
Breda says it's easy to see how Armstrong could get caught up in the use of performance enhancing drugs. He says 'that' is the nature of the sport.
"He's a great bicycle racer. He's beat the other guys who are doing the same thing," said Breda.
Breda calls Armstrong a great athlete who became an example, and predicts more cyclists could come out of the woodwork.
"I expect that he's sorry for everything, and I expect we'll hear more names involved in this case," Breda said.
Breda says he is hosting a watch party for the interview Thursday night at his shop, Nelo's Cycles.
