Oprah confirms Armstrong confession

Lance Armstrong has finally come clean. The cyclist confessed to doping during an interview with Oprah Winfrey taped Monday, just a couple of hours after a wrenching apology to staff at the Livestrong charity he founded and has now been forced to surrender.

The emotional day ended with 2 1/2 hours of questions from Winfrey, where she said the world's most famous cyclist was "forthcoming'' as she asked him in detail about doping allegations that followed him throughout his seven Tour de France victories.

Winfrey told CBS on Tuesday she had not planned to address Armstrong's confession before the interview aired but, "by the time I left Austin and landed in Chicago, you all had already confirmed it.''

"So I'm sitting here now because it's already been confirmed,'' she added. Winfrey would not characterize whether Armstrong seemed contrite but said he seemed ready for the interview.

Describing Armstrong's demeanor, Winfrey says, "I felt that he was thoughtful, I thought that he was serious, I thought that he certainly had prepared for this moment. I would say that he met the moment.'' She says she was "satisfied'' with the answers.

Winfrey adds that no lawyers were allowed in the room during the interview and that during a break Armstrong asked if there would be a point when the questions would lighten up.

UCI wants testimony

Aigle: The International Cycling Union, or UCI, said it was aware of media reports that Armstrong had come clean and urged him to testify before its independent commission on doping.

The UCI said it would not make any further comment until it has viewed the interview, which is to be broadcast on Thursday night.

The UCI set up an independent panel in November to investigate the Armstrong case and what role the governing body had in the scandal.

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