Lance Armstrong to compete in Tour de France after return to professional cycling

[vwpower]

Armstrong's return from cancer to win the Tour a record seven consecutive times made him a hero to cancer patients worldwide and elevated cycling to an unprecedented level in America.

The 36-year-old Armstrong told Vanity Fair in an exclusive interview posted on its website that he was inspired to return after finishing second last month in the Leadville 100, a lung-searing 100-mile (160-kilometre) mountain bike race through the Colorado Rockies.

He also confirmed the news on his blog http://livestrongblog.org/ .

"This kind of obscure bike race, totally kick-started my engine," he said. "I'm going back to professional cycling. I'm going to try and win an eighth Tour de France."

Cycling and particularly the Tour have missed his star power, even though he has been a controversial figure at times.

The 2009 Tour "is the intention," Armstrong's spokesman Mark Higgins said, "but we've got some homework to do over there."

Tour director Christian Prudhomme did not return messages seeking comment on Armstrong's decision.

Armstrong's close friend and long-time team director, Johan Bruyneel, now with team Astana, has also declined the chance to comment.

In a video statement on his foundation's website, Armstrong said details — such as a team and schedule — will be announced on Sept 24 at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City.

"I am happy to announce that after talking with my children, my family and my closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden," Armstrong said in a statement. "This year alone, nearly eight million people will die of cancer worldwide. ... It's now time to address cancer on a global level."

In the Vanity Fair interview, Armstrong told the magazine he's 100 per cent sure he's going to compete in the Tour next summer.

"We're not going to try to win second place," Bill Stapleton, Armstrong's lawyer and long-time confidant, said.

Armstrong noted in the magazine interview that other athletes in his age range are competing at a high level, specifically 41-year-old Olympic medallist swimmer Dara Torres of the US and 38-year-old Olympic women's marathon champion Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania.

"Older athletes are performing well," he said. "Ask serious sports physiologists and they'll tell you age is a wives' tale."

Age will be an issue for Armstrong in the Tour de France. He'll be 37 next week, ancient for such a gruelling competition. Only one rider older than 34 has ever won the Tour — 36-year-old Firmin Lambot in 1922.

Armstrong's return to competition raises the question of whether he risks damaging his athletic legacy. And his own words likely will cause some to wonder if he'll approach his return with the same steely-eyed determination and passion.

Armstrong had previously denied any chance of a comeback. In the October issue of Men's Journal, he said, "I'm glad I'm not cycling anymore ... It was fun while it lasted, and I liked it, but I'm so focused on other things now that I never think about it."

He was an established sprint champion when he was diagnosed in 1996 with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain. Doctors gave him less than a 50 percent chance of survival.

His stunning win at the 1999 Tour de France was just the start. Under the guidance of close friend and US Postal Service team director Bruyneel, Armstrong morphed from a sprinter into a technical expert who could climb mountains at speeds that punished other riders.

Armstrong's goal every year was to win the Tour de France, the sport's biggest race, and he dominated the Pyrenees and Alps like no other rider ever had.

His Lance Armstrong Foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer awareness and survivorship. The foundation's yellow "Livestrong" wristbands that started selling in 2004 are still seen everywhere — with many copycats.

He retired after his 2005 Tour de France victory, diving head first into making cancer a political issue and causing some to ask if he may someday run for office himself.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/...ctid1785292050

[Fer]

Interesante...
Que buenisimo.

[jos1]

era mejor retirarse con honores! va hacer el ridiculo como Jordan cuando intento regresar

[pitoria]

Esa onda es por que dicen que el patrocinio al TOur de Frace bajo un vergo cuando ese cerote se retiro, a wevos por pisto baila la mona...

[ghx]

se mete y vuelve a ganar seguro
no hay ahorita ningun ciclista que tenga el nivel de armstrong, sastre no creo que le aguante un reto en el Alpe dHuez

[Ektor]

sigo creyendo que armstrong puede todabia, no hay rival a mi parecer ty la verdad me gustaba ver mas el tour cuando estaba Armstrong, ver como taleguiaba a todos claro depende del equipo con el que corrra ahora ojala lo apopyen igual como el Discovery USpostal