Talking about Lance Armstrong is talking about a fallen myth, a rider who, because of doping, has gone from being a sports idol and an example for many people to an example of what not to do. But aside from his sports record, the American has never hesitated to support charitable causes, where his Livestrong Foundation managed to raise huge amounts for cancer research and other educational projects. One of the actions with which the Livestrong Foundation managed to raise half a million dollars was by auctioning Lance Armstrong's bicycle at Sotheby's auction house. Butterfly was the name of the bicycle Trek Madone
that, in 2009, after finishing the Tour de France, was 'tuned' by British artist Damien Hirst to turn it into an extraordinary bicycle. Hirst attached real butterfly wings that were placed on the frame and wheels.
A bicycle with real butterflies
The technical problems caused by this particular decoration were significant; Hirst himself explained that his decision to use real butterflies and not just images of butterflies was because he wanted it to shine with a light that could only be achieved with real butterflies, and he also wanted not to add extra weight. The truth is that this hybrid between bicycle and work of art was wrapped in controversy, both because of the price and because of protests from animal rights organizations, who considered the work of Hirst, who still makes headlines from time to time with his controversial works, to be in bad taste. Bono, the singer of the Irish group U2, spoke with Hirst to create Armstrong's bicycle so it could be auctioned for the Livestrong cancer foundation, but it seems that this Trek, although it achieved its purpose, ended up being talked about more for the way it was decorated than for the noble reason for its auction. The wings were the symbol of a new takeoff in Armstrong's carrera, who returned in 2009 to the Tour de France at age 37, after having voluntarily stayed off the road for three years. That year he finished third, although at the beginning of 2012 the judicial process began that ended up nullifying all the results the rider achieved from August 1, 1998 onward, as well as a lifetime ban that would prevent him from returning to professional sport. In the trial, he was ordered to be stripped of the 7 Tours and the Olympic medal.