Hamilton: Bruyneel and Riis need to own up

American Hamilton rode under Bruyneel at US Postal between 1999 and 2001, before joining up with Riis’s CSC team for two seasons.

Bruyneel faces doping charges from an ongoing USADA investigation, and could be banned for life if found guilty.

Lance Armstrong led US Postal during the time period at the centre of the inquest, and recently confessed to doping in a sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Bruyneel is currently embroiled with a USADA investigation and faces charges relating to doping that could see him banned for life. Lance Armstrong, who was the leader of US Postal team at the centre of the investigation, has already confessed to doping during parts of his career.

But although Hamilton, Alberto Contador, Frank Schleck, Jörg Jaksche, Michele Bartoli, Dave Zabriskie, Christian Vande Velde, and Michael Rasmussen have all either admitted to or been suspended for doping under Riis’s watch, the Dane has escaped any prolonged investigation.

Riis confessed to doping himself while an active rider, explaining his career decisions in his 2012 autobiography “Stages of Light and Dark”. But Hamilton told Cyclingnews that Riis broke more laws than he was letting on during the 1996 Tour de France.

“If they [Riis and Bruyneel] come forward and tell all then why not give them another shot. They shouldn’t just get a free walk. Everyone has to have some sort of consequence,” Hamilton said.

“There’s obviously more that Riis needs to open up about. He should be given that opportunity with some sort of knowledge that he’ll get another chance.

“If not it will remain the same and secrets will remain in the peloton.”