‘Lance’: ESPN ‘30 For 30′ Doc Shows Rise and Fall of Legendary Cyclist Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong says he’s ready to tell his own side of the story in a new documentary on ESPN. In today’s trailer for Lance, an upcoming 30 For 30 installment, director Marina Zenovich digs into the life of the disgraced seven-time Tour de France winner and hears from friends, teammates, rivals and Armstrong himself to unravel the complex scandal surrounding his life.

Lance follows Armstrong’s story starting with his youth in Texas and his battle with testicular cancer in his 20s. The documentary remembers his cycling victories and rise to fame, but also examines his involvement in one of the biggest doping scandals of sports history, and the aftermath that followed. Armstrong was stripped of his titles after admitting to using performance enhancing drugs in 2012. After being lauded as one of the most inspiring athletes of the decade for his amazing recovery from cancer and his unbelievable victories on the bike, Armstrong’s fall was shocking to sports fans and the nation as a whole.

Zenovich’s film hears from figures close to Armstrong, who reveal their thoughts about the cyclist and why he chose to do what he did in his career. “He’s very good at making sure he’s one step removed from true responsibility of his actions,” one of Zenovich’s interview subjects says in the trailer. Another adds that she’s “going to be naturally skeptical of whatever Lance does or says.”

As for Armstrong himself, he says his situation is complex, that admitting the truth isn’t a simple choice. “I can never be honest about this, because all of this goodness will come crashing down,” he explains. But he hints that his doping scandal needed to happen to keep him honest. “I needed a nuclear meltdown, and I got it. I’m not going to lie to you, Marina,” he tells the director. “I’m going to tell you my truth.”

Lance will air following the end of The Last Dance, the Michael Jordan documentary that’s been dominating Sunday nights on ESPN. The network bumped their Armstrong doc up — along with other 30 For 30 features — earlier than planned in an effort to keep sports fans entertained without any live programming to turn to during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Moving up these films is no easy task, but it’s absolutely worth the effort to get them on the air for audiences to experience together,” said Libby Geist, Vice President & Executive Producer, ESPN Films and Original Content. Following the premiere of Lance, ESPN has scheduled another 30 For 30 film called Be Water, about martial arts icon Bruce Lee.

Lance, a four-hour documentary, will air in two parts on ESPN. The first half will air May 24 at 9/8c, followed by the second half May 31 at 9/8c. Watch the full trailer in the video above.