Armstrong Announces Comeback
Lance Armstrong Stuns the Cycling World and Confirms Return to Tour
Sep 19, 2008
Lance Armstrong has stunned the world of cycling by confirming his plans to make a spectacular return to the sport for the 2009 season. The Texan rider last cycled competitively on the road during the 2005 Tour de France where he won a record seventh maillot jaune.
Armstrong dominated cycling's most prestigious event throughout the early 2000s, becoming only the second rider in history, after Miguel Indurain, to claim five victories in a row in 2003. He then went on to surpass the big Spaniard by winning both the 2004 and 2005 race before retiring, seemingly content with his seven wins and with his place in the sport's history assured.
Why Return?
So, with such a record, the question has been asked why would Armstrong want to return to the world's most demanding endurance event at the age of 37 years old?
In a statement issued on his website, Armstrong, a cancer survivor, said that his motivation was to raise the global awareness of cancer saying, “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. This year alone, nearly eight million people will die of cancer worldwide. ... it's now time to address cancer on a global level.”
It is undeniably true that his return has already attracted huge publicity and it is certain to continue to do so during the close season. Armstrong, as cancer's most famous survivor - is inextricably linked with the disease. His comeback can therefore only serve to increase global awareness of cancer, whatever the outcome.
However, never one to shy away from a challenge it is likely that Armstrong will also relish the opportunity to add to his sporting legacy by winning an eighth Tour. It will, however, be a monumentally tough assignment and should he be successful he will become the oldest winner of the race. The fact that he could add this additional factor to an already unprecedented record of victories has probably not passed him by unnoticed.
A Warm Welcome?
It is not yet clear what team he will ride for, Johann Bruyneel, Armstrong's Director Sportif, at US Postal and Discovery, and the architect of his seven Tour victories, is currently the Director Sportif, at Astana who currently have the brightest star in world cycling in Alberto Contador.
Both Bruyneel and Contador however have indicated that Armstrong would be welcome at Astana, Bruyneel saying, "My relationship with him goes beyond the professional rider-director relationship. I don't see myself running a team and having to race against him. I cannot imagine him being on another team. He won't have a problem finding one, but it's clear that the relationship we have means that I can't allow him to go to another team.”
Many questions remain, some of which may be answered in a press conference to be held on 24th September. However what is certain is that by announcing his unlikely return to professional cycling, Lance Armstrong has sparked a huge wave of media interest and debate. Exactly what he hoped to do.
References
Official Lance Armstrong website
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