In a new two-part documentary series - made by US ESPN with its premiere this weekend - Lance Armstrong now opens up about his childhood.

There, the 48-year-old says he lived an "incredibly hard life" and that growing up was particularly tough.

His mother Linda Armstrong was only 17 years old when Lance was born and his biological father was not in the picture during childhood. Stepfather Terry Armstrong abused Lance.

- He broke me, says the bike star according to The Guardian.

The stepfather in turn says:

- Lance wouldn't have been the champion he is today if it wasn't for me. I drove him like an animal.

Lance Armstrong is the most well-known cyclist of all time and won the Tour de France seven times, but was later deprived of all titles after 2012 being found guilty of doping. He had been surrounded by the doping rumors for several years, but was constantly denied.

In 2013, he acknowledged the doping during a lengthy and well-publicized interview with TV star Oprah Winfrey.

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