Actually Tyson, Lance was an "ambassador" to use a word, or a "go between" from memory when the whip rules were being drawn up.
You will notice he pretty much sticks to the rules by using the "flicking" motion and not the full arm, overhead smash like yesteryear.
Mind you he gets in a whole lot of "flicks" but i believe the rules say in the last 200m drivers have free reign (pardon the pun) to flick away in the last furlong.