Lance Armstrong to end retirement in bid for eighth Tour de France win

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September 10, 2008 06:57am

CYCLING legend Lance Armstrong is coming out of retirement and will try to win an eighth Tour de France.

The 36-year-old who survived cancer to win a record seven successive Tours, said in a statement today: "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."

And in an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair magazine, Armstrong said he was 100 per cent sure would ride in the 2009 Tour de France.

"I'm going back to professional cycling," he said in the story posted on the magazine's website.

"I'm going to try to win an eighth Tour de France."

Armstrong's return from testicular cancer made him a hero to cancer patients worldwide and elevated cycling to an unprecedented level in America.

Armstrong's spokesman Mark Higgins said: "The Tour is the intention but we've got some homework to do over there."

And his lawyer, Bill Stapleton, said: "We're not going to try to win second place."

What team Armstrong will ride with and in what other races he'll compete are undecided.

Lance Armstrong to end retirement in bid for eighth Tour de France win

Article from:

• Font size: Decrease Increase
• Email article: Email
• Print article: Print
• Submit comment: Submit comment

September 10, 2008 06:57am

CYCLING legend Lance Armstrong is coming out of retirement and will try to win an eighth Tour de France.

The 36-year-old who survived cancer to win a record seven successive Tours, said in a statement today: "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."

And in an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair magazine, Armstrong said he was 100 per cent sure would ride in the 2009 Tour de France.

"I'm going back to professional cycling," he said in the story posted on the magazine's website.

"I'm going to try to win an eighth Tour de France."

Armstrong's return from testicular cancer made him a hero to cancer patients worldwide and elevated cycling to an unprecedented level in America.

Armstrong's spokesman Mark Higgins said: "The Tour is the intention but we've got some homework to do over there."

And his lawyer, Bill Stapleton, said: "We're not going to try to win second place."

What team Armstrong will ride with and in what other races he'll compete are undecided.



In Spain, Armstrong's old team director, Johann Bruyneel, said he wanted the Texan to ride for his Astana team.

"If his return is something serious and he decided to return to professional cycling, the only thing I can say is that I have a team and I can't imagine being at a race and seeing Lance with a CSC or Rabobank jersey," Bruyneel said.

Although Armstrong overcame his cancer, Bruyneel is uncertain whether even the 36-year-old Texan can return after three years out of professional cycling.

"He's continued training and he's done marathons, but he's coming in with a very different style of life to a sportsman," Bruyneel said.

"Three years without competing is a lot."

Astana's Alberto Contador welcomed the possibility of having Armstrong as a teammate in cycling's top race next year.

"It would be an honour to be able to ride with Lance Armstrong," the 2007 Tour champion was quoted as saying.

"Nothing in this news seems strange to me. Lance Armstrong is such an important rider that you can allow for everything."