Trek Bicycles settled a lawsuit filed almost two years ago against 3-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond. Under the terms of the settlement, Trek will make a pair of $100,000 payments to a charity called OneInSix.Org. LeMond is involved in that group, which helps men who are victims of sex abuse.
Trek also ended a 15-year-old licensing deal last weekend with LeMond, allowing the cyclist to regain the rights to bikes that carry his name.
Trek filed suit against LeMond in April 2008, and stopped making LeMond bicycles around that time. Trek had said it was damaged when LeMond accused cycling legend Lance Armstrong of taking performance-enhancing drugs. LeMond countered that Trek was not promoting his brand of bikes. A trial had been scheduled to take place in Minnesota in March. Trek had been partnering with LeMond since 1995.
Trek President John Burke said in a statement, “Greg has a hard-won place in the Pantheon of bicycle racing, and we are proud of what we were able to accomplish together. Trek respects Greg's efforts and commitment to the charitable foundation, 1in6.org, and Trek is pleased to lend its support to that very worthwhile endeavour.”
In his own statement, LeMond said, “I am pleased to resolve the issues between Trek and myself and am happy to be able to move forward with the things important in my life. I appreciate Trek's support for the work of 1in6.org. I take deep satisfaction in this resolution and believe it will have a positive impact on those that can benefit most from the purpose of 1in6.org.”
