David

We can beat everyone else. Ian went for it.

We can beat everyone else. Ian went for it.

Mike won.

Mike won.

First Place takes home a jersey with stars and stripes, like Captain America.

First Place takes home a jersey with stars and stripes, like Captain America.

Ian was not having it. He immediately told the reporter what happened. He was like, Mike cheated. He cheated.

Ian was not having it. He immediately told the reporter what happened. He was like, Mike cheated. He cheated.

As if to say, hey man, you're doing well. If you keep it up, you might even win this thing. I said you could win, not that I'd let you win. And so, life goes on. Ian races professionally for a bit, but gets injured and becomes a journalist. Of course, he covers cycling. Mike becomes an Olympian. The whole time, they're sort of circling each other's orbits, but avoiding crossing paths.

As if to say, hey man, you're doing well. If you keep it up, you might even win this thing. I said you could win, not that I'd let you win. And so, life goes on. Ian races professionally for a bit, but gets injured and becomes a journalist. Of course, he covers cycling. Mike becomes an Olympian. The whole time, they're sort of circling each other's orbits, but avoiding crossing paths.

And annoyingly, everyone in the racing world really likes Mike.

And annoyingly, everyone in the racing world really likes Mike.

It's like saying you hate Mr. Rogers, right? Yeah, yeah. So as time passes, this race stays. like a thorn in Ian's side.

It's like saying you hate Mr. Rogers, right? Yeah, yeah. So as time passes, this race stays. like a thorn in Ian's side.

Then one day, about 15 years later, Ian's covering a race in Colorado, near where Mike lived, He's on the tour bus hanging out.

Then one day, about 15 years later, Ian's covering a race in Colorado, near where Mike lived, He's on the tour bus hanging out.

And that is Mike Friedman. That day on the bus, Mike didn't fully fess up and apologize. For Mike, it's complicated. Here's how he remembers those final moments of the race.

And that is Mike Friedman. That day on the bus, Mike didn't fully fess up and apologize. For Mike, it's complicated. Here's how he remembers those final moments of the race.

It ate at him. He didn't race for two years. Mike didn't even tell anyone for a really long time. Fessing up that he cheated would mean that he was just that, a cheater. Not a kid who lost himself for a minute in a race.

It ate at him. He didn't race for two years. Mike didn't even tell anyone for a really long time. Fessing up that he cheated would mean that he was just that, a cheater. Not a kid who lost himself for a minute in a race.