Tyler Hamilton Talks Training, Career at Fit Werx

Former pro cyclist and Marblehead native Tyler Hamilton stopped by Peabody's signature specialty cycling shop, , Wednesday night to discuss his training regiment, his career in cycling and share stories from the Tour de France.

About 75 area residents, including Hamilton's brother and father, attended the event, which provided local cyclists the opportunity to ask Hamilton about some of his biggest races, and what it was like to ride alongside Lance Armstrong.

Before Hamilton arrived at the store, an owner told the crowd that they could feel free to ask Hamilton whatever they'd like, but cautioned that "he really can't address specific questions about people, events and circumstances related to an ongoing federal investigation."

Speaking with Peabody Patch prior to the event, owner Marty Miserandino said: "Fit Werx is happy to welcome Tyler. He has a wealth of experience in a sport we love [and] has raced at the highest level in the most prestigious races."

"His life experiences on and off the bike seem very interesting and we look forward to hearing about them. Now that he is truly free to talk about his experience, more people have embraced him and have a better understanding of the life he lived while a pro cyclist," Miserandino said.

"It's great to be back home, I haven't been home very much and just driving up here was special," Hamilton said Wednesday.

For about two hours, Hamilton discussed the kind of training he did before participating in major races, including the Tour de France, his relationship with other members of the U.S. Postal team and how quickly he went from being an amateur to a world class cyclist.

"I got lucky in a lot of ways," Hamilton said. "There were a bunch of times when I was at a crossroads and I had people around me who helped me make the right decisions. There were definitely times when I had to pinch myself."

Hanging above the spot where Hamilton spoke was the frame of a locally-created bike that he road in the Giro d'Italia, a world famous race in Italy.

Hamilton, 40, effectively retired from professional road cycling in 2009 when he was banned from the sport for eight years after failing an out-of-competition drug test. It was his second offense -- the first confirmed positive test was during the 2004 Vuelta a Espana after he had already won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Athens.

Hamilton denied any use of performance enhancing drugs, however, on both occasions.

The former pro returned to the public eye in 2010 when he was subpoenaed that July for questioning in a federal grand jury investigation into banned drug use in professional cycling. Hamilton went public with his story nearly a year later and said he had finally admitted to using banned substances and indicated former teammate Lance Armstrong was also guilty of doping.

Hamilton shared that news in an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" this past May and returned his gold medal. He also sent a letter to family and friends, which went public, again confessing to doping, prior to the news show being broadcast.

Since then, Hamilton and Armstrong had at least one confrontation (depending on whose story you believe) at a restaurant in Aspen, Co., in which the former teammates exchanged words, allegedly about Hamilton's interview and his status as a possible witness in the federal investigation. Hamilton's lawyers are claiming witness tampering.

Hamilton lives in Cambridge these days when he's home and works as a private coach.

Hamilton hit the professional circuit in 1995, competing with Armstrong in the Tour de France in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Hamilton appeared in the 2000 Summer Olympics and was then back in 2004 in Athens, taking gold in the men's time trial.

He failed an initial doping test at that time, but since a backup blood sample was frozen, the offense could not proven. He then failed further tests at the 2004 Vuelta a Espana and was suspended for two years.

Hamilton returned to competition and became national road race champion in 2008 before failing another doping test in 2009.