It looks like running the NYC marathon in under three hours just isn't enough for Lance Armstrong, who will turn 37 next week. Yesterday, the seven-time winner of the Tour de France announced that he has decided to return to professional bike racing to "raise awareness of the global cancer burden" with the ultimate goal of winning an eighth Tour next Summer. His return to cycling could be the boost the sport needs.
Armstrong's reputation is slightly tarnished by circumstantial evidence suggesting he used a banned substance to help win all those tours, so could this comeback be an attempt to polish his reputation? Lance has registered with the Anti-Doping agency a while back so he will be cleared to race in the Tour de California in February.
While Armstrong has been in the news a lot lately, mostly for his penchant for blond starlets, I think it is great to see him promoting his LiveStrong foundation and cycling. He will provide more details on his comeback at the Clinton Global Initiative and begin the hard physical work of training for upcoming races.
Tell me . . .
Diane von Furstenberg
Killah
McQ by Alexander McQueen
I'm a fan of cycling; not so much of Lance.
1I don't really see how returning to professional cycling will "raise awareness of the global cancer burden." He's already doing a pretty effective fundraising & creating awareness as a celebrity. I think he's bored like all those other athletes that retire in their early 30's. But I am curious to see if he can do it without the banned substances. Or, I guess he's probably found new ones...
2I'm ambivalent. It probably will "give cycling a much needed boost," but it's kind of annoying when people "un-retire"
3why not?
4I am not a fan of him. In my opinion, he is just bored of cavorting around with Hollywood starlets, and now wants to fix his reputation by doing what he's good at, cycling. Do I think he was doping when he won all those TdF's? YES.
On the other hand, I think his cancer foundation is great and if it brings more awareness, then cool.
I just won't be fair if other cyclists like Alberto Contador will have to help him win...Lance's time is over...time to move on!
5I dont like him.
6i agree with bored...he needs an image boost after all the drama of his harem
7I don't get why so many famous people (athletes, musicians, etc.) make this big deal about "retiring" if they're just going to come back in a couple of years. That's not retiring - that's just not working for a little bit and if you have enough money to do so, good for you. But don't put on this big show of "retiring" if it's not for good.
Sorry - had to blast for a little there. On the topic of Lance, I admire his work in the fields of cancer awareness, fundraising and research, but I don't really see how him going back to cycling would do any better or worse for his Livestrong efforts.
8Must be some new blood boosters out there that he feels will go undetected. He worked with the best doctors in the world; whose specialties were increasing red blood cell counts...come on!
Lance Armstrong is a cheat!
9I am a bit surprised by it, but then again, I'm sure it's tough to get used to retirement when you used to spend all your time in pursuit of one thing. Or maybe he just wants to clear up the rumors about performance enhancers once and for all.
10He is so juiced, I could care less.
11I love Lance Armstrong and I utterly respect his accomplishments - not just in sport but also how he has used his fame for a cause.
I could care less about his dating etc. I'm not dating him.
I don't think he can win however because if he is with Team Astana I don't think they will be strong enough to ride him to a win.
Mikey17 & Jinx, he was tested and tested and tested and not once, NOT ONCE, gave a positive or even questionable result.
12I think he's an attention wh*re. But hopefully this means he'll stop running marathons and being in every other Runners World article.
13w00t! setting tivo now...
He may not be perfect but the guy can peddle. Go Lance!
14Sorry plus_2_kid, you're wrong. Several tests proved he cheated. Unfortunately the doping substances he took could not be revealed in 1999. But the laboratory kept his urine samples and when the substances could be tested, the 6 samples proved he had taken EPO.
15I know no one can officially prove he cheated because there can't be counter testing. I know he denied it and attacked the laboratory. But this laboratory is known for detecting doping substances, is appointed by the IOC and was one of the laboratories who tested athletes during the last Games.
1. Let the other guys have a chance to shine.
2. He'll ruin his great record if he doens't win.
Plus he's just not likable. Even if he is a freak riding machine!
16Exactly gaellemj, there is alot of uncertainty regarding Lance.
17One of the biggest sports of all seems to be rigging the drug tests anymore with drugs that are harder to detect, certain combinations, timing, etc.
i think that lance is doing a good thing but i think that he's setting himself up to be disappointed. it's not an easy thing to win the race and what if he doesn't ? he's should just be involved in other races and let this one go -cause you should want to go out while you're on top and i feel like he's been distracted lately and hasn't been training in the same way that he normally would from the past races.
18Lance is a has been - been there done that. First Brett now Lance. Get over yourselves. If the limelight isn't around them they come back for it. Definition of retired; that has given up one's work, business, or career, especially because of age.
19I love cycling. I saw Lance race before he he retired the first time due to cancer. Also, I remember seeing him race in the Olympics, so the chance to see him race again and prove that he's not a doper is something that I'm really excited about. However, I don't know that he'll be able to win again.
Dopers SUCK!!!
20I'm fascinated by the Lance is a cheat comments. I must have missed the positive drug tests. When where they reported?
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