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Report: Lance to hop back on bike for 2009 Tour

nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
edited September 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=3576014

Report: Armstrong to come out of retirement and ride for Astana
ESPN.com news services

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong will come out of retirement and compete in next year's Tour de France, VeloNews reported Monday, citing sources close to the situation.

Armstrong, who will turn 37 on Sept. 18, will join the Astana team and compete in five road races, the sources told VeloNews.

He will compete in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia, the Dauphine-Libere and the Tour de France. The sources told VeloNews that Armstrong will receive no salary or bonuses.

Armstrong's manager, Mark Higgins, would not comment.

Sources told VeloNews that Armstrong's comeback will be the focal point of a story in the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair, to be published later this month.

Armstrong, who overcame testicular cancer he was diagnosed with in 1996 en route to his string of Tour de France triumphs, has remained active in the three years since his retirement.

In August he raced in the Leadville Trail 100, a 100-mile mountain bike race through the Colorado Rockies, finishing a close second to the six-time defending champion, Dave Wiens. It's the country's highest-altitude bicycle race.

Armstrong has also run the New York and Boston marathons and was set last month to run the Chicago Marathon in October.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    hmmmmmm....
  • Solat13Solat13 Posts: 6,996
    That's awesome to hear. It will bring more people to watch the Tour, but more importantly help cancer research fundraising.

    Hopefully no matter how he does it will finally put an end to all the nasty doping rumors about him.

    He's one of the last heroes left in the world and I'm really happy to see this.
    - Busted down the pretext
    - 8/28/98
    - 9/2/00
    - 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
    - 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
    - 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
    - 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
    - 8/2/07, 8/5/07
    - 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
    - 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
    - 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
    - 9/11/11, 9/12/11
    - 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    i'm not sure how i feel about it. would suck if he lost! i don't know why people can't stay retired these days.....i don't think i'll have a problem with it. :)
    (not that he's really retired...he IS doing mountain bike racing and running marathons)
  • Solat13Solat13 Posts: 6,996
    nfanel wrote:
    i'm not sure how i feel about it. would suck if he lost! i don't know why people can't stay retired these days.....i don't think i'll have a problem with it. :)
    (not that he's really retired...he IS doing mountain bike racing and running marathons)

    Win or lose. Just him being out there is an inspiration to all those who are battling or overcome cancer and their families and friends. Pretty much everyone.
    - Busted down the pretext
    - 8/28/98
    - 9/2/00
    - 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
    - 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
    - 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
    - 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
    - 8/2/07, 8/5/07
    - 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
    - 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
    - 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
    - 9/11/11, 9/12/11
    - 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
  • AnonAnon Posts: 11,175
    more power to Lance! i think he's an amazing athlete & an amazing guy.
  • my2handsmy2hands Posts: 17,117
    wow!
  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,200
    Pro Cycling could use some fresh injection no pun intended just stay away from the Tour De France. He ain't ready or in shape for that shit.

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    g under p wrote:
    Pro Cycling could use some fresh injection no pun intended just stay away from the Tour De France. He ain't ready or in shape for that shit.

    Peace
    he's already proven himself with that race. that's why i don't know why he'd go back to it now...after being away for a few years.

    he's still very public and very into raising awareness, so i don't think returning to the TDF would have any effect on his cancer fundraising. i think it's cooler to see him pushing himself in other areas like this mountain biking and the sick times he's been recording in marathons.
  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,200
    He's a fierce competitor and his tenacity has taken me some of my toughest century rides. Yes he has proven himself with the TDF and riding these smaller races would bring some interest to Cycling once again.

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • adam42381adam42381 Kernersville, NC Posts: 2,515
    He's had a couple years to juice up again so he'll be ready.
    I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me.
    __________________________________________________________
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  • WobbieWobbie Posts: 30,454
    or not? :confused:

    http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/cycling/news/story?id=3576504
    If I had known then what I know now...

    Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
    VIC 07
    EV LA1 08
    Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
    Columbus 10
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    Missoula 12
    Portland 13, Spokane 13
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    Denver 22
  • Solat13Solat13 Posts: 6,996
    http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D933DOJ80&show_article=1

    Looks like it's happening:

    Added Bill Stapleton, Armstrong's lawyer and longtime confidant: "We're not going to try to win second place."
    - Busted down the pretext
    - 8/28/98
    - 9/2/00
    - 4/28/03, 5/3/03, 7/3/03, 7/5/03, 7/6/03, 7/9/03, 7/11/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03
    - 9/28/04, 9/29/04, 10/1/04, 10/2/04
    - 9/11/05, 9/12/05, 9/13/05, 9/30/05, 10/1/05, 10/3/05
    - 5/12/06, 5/13/06, 5/27/06, 5/28/06, 5/30/06, 6/1/06, 6/3/06, 6/23/06, 7/22/06, 7/23/06, 12/2/06, 12/9/06
    - 8/2/07, 8/5/07
    - 6/19/08, 6/20/08, 6/22/08, 6/24/08, 6/25/08, 6/27/08, 6/28/08, 6/30/08, 7/1/08
    - 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 9/21/09, 9/22/09, 10/27/09, 10/28/09, 10/30/09, 10/31/09
    - 5/15/10, 5/17/10, 5/18/10, 5/20/10, 5/21/10, 10/23/10, 10/24/10
    - 9/11/11, 9/12/11
    - 10/18/13, 10/21/13, 10/22/13, 11/30/13, 12/4/13
  • FoxwellFoxwell Posts: 142
    My guess is that he will race the Tour of California in February, Paris-Nice in March, and the Dauphiné Libéré in June, and then you'll hear about a news conference from his home in Spain wherein he declares he's not in the kind of shape needed to win the Tour. He'll bow out before he finishes in seventh-place (or worse).

    I think his mind/ego might be playing tricks on him. Hell, I'm 38 with four years of NCAA eligibility left and I sometimes think I could play defensive-line for the Bruins.

    But, if we don't get that news conference, and he does roll off the line at the Prologue in '09, I will all but guarantee you that he will be on the top step of the podium on the Champs-Elysee three weeks later. He wouldn't settle for anything less.
    "In the depths of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." -- Albert Camus

    "He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that." -- John Stuart Mill

    "Mongo just a pawn in game of life." -- Mongo
  • DonJonDonJon Posts: 5,089
    I read last night that Astana definitely said it wasnt happening...well at least he wasnt gonna ride for them. Ill see if I can dig it up
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
  • suns rivalsuns rival Posts: 15,926
    if he wins next years tour, it will be one of the biggest comebacks of all time & catapult him as the greatest biker ever.
    scratching my butt...
    kinakamot ang aking puwit...
    me rascando pompis...
    krap mijn reet...
    boku no ketsuoana o kizu...
    bahrosh teezy...
  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,200
    suns rival wrote:
    if he wins next years tour, it will be one of the biggest comebacks of all time & catapult him as the greatest biker ever.

    As a cyclist speaking here and as much as I love Lance this will not happen.

    He's going to have get or buy the best team to ride with him to win TDF.

    The French will not be happy about this.

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • FoxwellFoxwell Posts: 142
    g under p wrote:
    He's going to have get or buy the best team to ride with him to win TDF.
    Whether it's Astana or some other team, I have no doubt he'll be able to gather the best and most loyal domestiques. That's always been his trademark and the key to winning these epic races. In fact, I believe Ulrich could've beaten him, at least once, if T-Mobile had been a tad more dedicated to Jan.

    And look at it from the point of view of the prospective domestiques, wouldn't you want the chance to ride with Lance? If you played baseball, wouldn't you sacrifice some personal glory for a chance to play with Willie Mays?
    The French will not be happy about this.
    I've often heard that Lance, like most successful riders, likes to ride angry. What better motivation than a nation of sneering doubters pushing you up the Alp d"Huez?

    Ride on!
    "In the depths of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." -- Albert Camus

    "He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that." -- John Stuart Mill

    "Mongo just a pawn in game of life." -- Mongo
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