Cyclist With Cancer Connection Talks Armstrong

Fallen U.S. cycling champ Lance Armstrong is back in the public spotlight over his doping allegations. Armstrong met with his Livestrong cancer charity Monday ahead of a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey later this week.

Armstrong’s multiple cycling championships propelled the sport of cycling into the main-stream spotlight. His Oprah Winfrey interview will be monitored across the country, including Sioux Falls.

“I foresee the first question, ‘Did you dope?’ And I see Lance being extremely emotional and heartbroken,” Suzie Goebel said.

Goebel knows the impact Armstrong has had on cycling. She's an avid cyclist and spends her days working at the Spoke N' Sport cycle shop in Sioux Falls. But Goebel is the first to admit she's never been on the Armstrong bandwagon.

“I never got the yellow bracelet, never joined Livestrong. But I have deep respect for the cancer support he has given,” Goebel said.

But Goebel is connected to him just the same. Ten years ago Goebel's father died of cancer. He supported her athletic endeavors, which eventually led her to the cycling sport.

“When I did my Iron Man, the whole time I had my dad in my thoughts. I was smiling, never had a notion to quit, just because I want to do something for him,” Goebel said.

Goebel never worshipped Armstrong, like some in the sport still do, but she says there's no doubt the sport has lost its legend.

Has he forever tarnished the sport? Probably not. But she'll be waiting to hear what the cyclist who literally raced to the top of the world has to say about his demise and if it diminishes his work.

“You always want to think that someone has the good inside of them, that he didn't do this to cover up the bad,” Goebel said.

Armstrong reportedly met with members at his Live Strong foundation on Monday in Austin, Texas, saying he was sorry for putting the charity at risk and that he let staffers down. He did not directly confess to using banned drugs.