OT: Lance Armstrong

[Woodstock]

http://www.turkishpress.com/sports/n...3.lgts7e8q.xml

This man is my hero. No doubt he has the drive and emotional strength that few have. He has defeated many odds during his life.... I hope he wins another one!!!

GO LANCE~~~~~

Lance Armstrong has ended speculation over whether he will race in the 2005 Tour de France by saying he will go for a seventh straight victory in this year's race.

Armstrong made history by becoming the first cyclist to win six Tours de France with a dominating performance, winning five individual stages, in 2004.

"I am grateful for the opportunity that Discovery Communications has given the team and look forward to achieving my goal of a seventh Tour de France," Armstrong told the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's website.

Armstrong will kick off his season early next month in the Paris-Nice seven-day stage race, the first event of the newly formed Pro Tour, the sport's top level racing series.

"I am excited to get back on the bike and start racing although my condition is far from perfect," said Armstrong.

Following Paris-Nice, Armstrong will take part in the 89th edition of the Tour of Flanders, one of Europe's most prestigious Spring Classics, on April 3.

Armstrong last raced in the Tour of Flanders in 2002, finishing 59th in support of his team's leader.

The Texan will then return to the US and defend his title at the Tour de Georgia from April 19-25.

"Johan (Bruyneel, the team's sports manager) and I will evaluate my fitness later this spring and possibly add some races to the calendar," said Armstrong.

Olaf Ludwig, head of former Tour winner Jan Ullrich's T-Mobile team, said he was not surprised by Armstrong's decision.

"I thought he'd race. His sponsors are not going to leave their best rider out," he said.

Ullrich was fourth last year while T-Mobile team-mate Andreas Kloden was second, six minutes behind Armstrong.

Armstrong's initial 2005 schedule:
March 6-13: Paris-Nice (France)
April 3: Tour of Flanders (Belgium)
April 19-24: Tour de Georgia (USA)
July 2-24: Tour de France

[mnreefman]

my money says he'll get #7

[Woodstock]

I hope so!! I had a blast following his progress in the tour-de-france last year

[Brucey]

We get the whole TDF live in the UK . . . . It's the biggest cycling event in Europe and I'm gripped by it every year. Lance is the man . . . . just wish he was English . . . .:-)
Brucey

[Gina]

I hope he does it also! Also, pretty cool that he's dating Sheryl Crow! They fit together nicely!

[Brucey]

Anyone would fit nicely with Sheryl crow Gina . . . . . . . . Bruce, must set reminder . . . must take up cycling and go up and down a few mountains in France . . .
Brucey

[Gina]

Brucey!

[Woodstock]

LOL Brucey!

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by Brucey

Anyone would fit nicely with Sheryl crow Gina . . . . . . . . Bruce, must set reminder . . . must take up cycling and go up and down a few mountains in France . . .
Brucey

That or put on a cowboy hat and do some southern rock/detroit rap type song.
I have sheryl crow songs in my head now. Leaving las vegas, for good,I'm leaving for gooood.

[Woodstock]

This may be his last race

Armstrong Will Retire After 2005 Tour De France

POSTED: 1:09 pm EDT April 18, 2005
UPDATED: 4:15 pm EDT April 18, 2005

ATLANTA -- Lance Armstrong will retire from professional cycling after this summer's Tour de France, ending one of the great careers in all sports.



Lance Armstrong at the Paris-Nice cycling race in March.


"Ultimately, athletes have to retire ... the body doesn't just keep going and going," Armstrong said Monday at a news conference.

The 33-year-old Texan will attempt to win his record seventh straight Tour de France in July. Before Armstrong, Miguel Indurain's five straight Tour de France wins were the record. No other rider has won five overall.

Armstrong's streak of six straight titles, along with his inspirational recovery from testicular cancer, has made him a superstar in the sport and an international celebrity.

Armstrong's possible retirement plans had become the focus of growing speculation as he spoke in recent months that he wants to spend more time with his three children and in his campaign against cancer.

Armstrong says he is "100 percent committed" to his decision to retire and that he will not be participating in any other races after July 24 - the scheduled end of the Tour de France.

The announcement came on the eve of Armstrong's defense of his Tour de Georgia championship. The six-day, 648-mile event he uses as a training tool for the Tour de France begins Tuesday.

His new two-year contract to race for the Discovery Channel team requires he compete in just one more Tour de France.

"I hope to win one more Tour de France," he said.

He has said previously if he retires he would amplify his high-profile role as a cancer survivor.

Armstrong's relationship with rock star Sheryl Crow has also made him the focus of the tabloids and paparazzi.

"Sheryl, you've been an amazing woman. For someone who is the queen of rock n' roll, you've been a great cycling fan ... a great teammate," he said.

[Woodstock]

[Woodstock]

Lance Armstrong Wins Seventh Straight Tour

Congratulations Lance!!!!

ST. ETIENNE, France -- Lance Armstrong, who battled his way back from cancer in 1999, won his seventh straight Tour de France victory on the rain-slicked streets of the Champs Elysees in Paris.

With about eight laps to go in the 92nd Tour de France, slippery conditions forced race organizers to stop the clock as Armstrong and the main pack pedaled into Paris. It was then Armstrong, who carried a 4:40 lead into Sunday's festivities, officially won the 2005 Tour de France.

Armstrong won the event by a comfortable margin, finishing with a lead of 4 minutes 40 seconds over Italy's Ivan Basso.

Armstrong took back the yellow jersey after Stage 10 and never relinquished it, taking the race over with a commanding performance in the first Alpine stage. He captured just one stage during this year's Tour -- Saturday's individual time trial in Stage 20.

Jan Ullrich of Germany ended in third place in the overall standings, 6 minutes and 21 seconds behind Armstrong.

Kazakhstan's Alexandre Vinokourov won Sunday's Stage 21, a trek of 90.5 miles ending on the Champs-Elysees, with a time of 3 hours, 40 minutes 57 seconds. Thor Hushhovd, of Norway, won the green jersey as the Tour's best sprinter with 194 points.

Armstrong's heroic battle with cancer coupled with his seven straight Tour de France titles transformed the Texas native into one of the elite and most recognizable athletes in the world. On Sunday, Armstrong retired wearing the famed "maillot jaune" as the winner of cycling's most illustrious race for the final time.

The 33-year-old cycling superstar of the Discovery Channel team flashed seven fingers, held a piece of paper with the number seven on it and sipped champagne with about 30 miles remaining in the race.

Minutes earlier, Armstrong avoided a crash with his teammates to keep his pedals moving. He skidded into the riders and used one leg to balance his bike. No members of the Discovery Channel team were injured and Armstrong later cruised to his 83rd career yellow jersey. Eddy Merckx of Belgium captured the most with 111 yellow jersey's during the 1960's and 70's.

Armstrong had contemplated not racing in this year's Tour, but announced during the winter that he would compete. His wise decision earned him his 22nd career stage win and an unprecedented Tour de France record.