Berates the American for deceiving the public and leaving the current riders to bear the burden of suspicion.

Thor Hushovd is fuming at his former friend, Lance Armstrong, claiming he has “dragged cycling down into the mud and shattered all integrity for us who remain," according to Norwegian television channel NRK.

Hushovd said he was “amazed by the scope” of Armstrong's doping, and underlines that he himself has a “clear conscience.”

“I am very pissed at Armstrong and others who have played us for fools,” he told nrk.no. “I have cried going over the mountains because it hurt so much,” he said. “Lance built the sport up to something big, but has now dragged it down in the mud and destroyed all credibility for us who remain. At least those of us who rode with him.”

The extent and scope of the doping and deception on the part of Armstrong and his former US Postal team has shocked the Norwegian rider. “It's crazy what Armstrong and the team have done. Such systematic doping, something I had never imagined. The way he acted and the arrogance he has shown to those who spoke the truth, is shocking.”

Armstrong has had all of his results annulled going back to 1998 after USADA found him and his US Postal team culpable of organized doping. Armstrong lost all seven of his Tour titles and subsequently admitted to doping in January.