Posted on 09/24/2008 10:31:22 AM PDT by Schnucki
Lance Armstrong has confirmed that he will return to professional cycling next year and seek an eighth Tour de France win while promoting a global cancer awareness campaign.
"I have decided to race my bicycle again," said Armstrong, 37, a survivor of testicular cancer, as he launched the Live Strong Global Awareness Campaign in New York.
"With this campaign we feel that by racing the bicycle all over the world, beginning in Australia, ending in France at the global summit, it is the best way to promote this initiative, it's the best way to get the word out."
Earlier, the organisers of the Tour Down Under – a stage race based in Adelaide and South Australia – were given the go ahead to confirm Armstrong's participation, a huge boost for the race.
The move was announced by state Premier Mike Rann, who said Armstrong's participation would make the tour "the biggest sporting event in South Australian history".
"What Lance wants to do is to use his comeback to really globalise his campaign to raise awareness and also raise funding for research into cancer prevention and cancer treatment," said Rann. "We will be very willing partners in that."
Armstrong will also use the race in January to prepare himself for his quest to win the Tour de France title.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
He must have conferred with Brett Favre on this............
Ennui.
Who cares? He’s a creep.
Lance needs attention.
Lance Armstrong is a juiced up phony, was given a pass by the cycling industry because it would have been too damaging for the sport if they had told the truth. Go away, Lance, and hope nobody steps up and spills the beans.
Do you know something the rest of us don't?
To call Armstrong a phony implies that the rest of professional cycling is pure and real.
Let’s see. 7th win, dates Cheryl Crow, then Kate Hudson. Cut to a return to the bicycle.
When is he running for Gov. of Texas?
I’m with you. Other former champions went on to other careers, and were excellent ambassadors for the sport. Heck, even Hinault mellowed. Sean Kelly, one of the most determined and hardcore of riders hung it up and turned his talents to developing young cyclists. Merckx coached, as did Stephen Roche.
Can you imagine Lance giving anything to the sport other than himself?
I agree with you; can’t stand Lance Armstrong either. His 15 minutes of fame is LONG over. Obviously he is an attention whore and despite his surviving cancer (good for him) he has become quite unlikable in my view.
Actually, not so. The impression out there is that Armstrong is the lone clean soldier in professional cycling and the rest of the riders are dirty. Bottom line is, Lance is right there with them, in the dirt. Thus, he is a phony.
The magazine Architectural Digest did a splendid story, lots of pictures, of his home outside Austin. It is quite a place.
One of several he owns.
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