Note the pledge not to offer an excuse while offering what looks very much like an excuse, along with a half-hearted outright denial.

To the rest of the world it offers an excuse for losing.

I'm not going to offer any excuses whatsoever.

Then they lied when asked why they did it, offering the excuse that they were treating for shock.

One by one, they drop out of the journey, each offering an excuse and unable to endure the journey.