Lance to Come Out of Retirement?
Velonews is reporting that unnamed sources have told them that Lance Armstrong will come out of retirement and race in the 2009 Tour de France.
Sources told VeloNews that Armstrong -- who turns 37 this month -- will rejoin Astana and former manager Johan Bruyneel, and in addition to the Tour de France, would race in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia, and the Dauphiné Libéré.
Lance has been dabbling in mountain biking and marathoning, but I'm skeptical that he's seriously considering a return to racing. But if it were true, it would be the best thing that could happen to professional cycling, and there certainly would be no one happier than the organizers and sponsors of the major U.S. races., as Lance would undoubtedly draw huge crowds to the Tours of California and Georgia, which are in February and April respectively. But, as they say, only time will tell.
Do you think Lance is really coming out of retirement? Comment below.
Comments
I am highly doubtful he would return. As it stands I have to believe he feels as if he dodged a bullet with all the doping scandals and crack downs that have broken since his departure. When you think of all the people that he consistently beat that have been busted:
Basso
Ullrich
Mancebo
Hamilton
Landis
Rasmussen, etc..
I mean is it really possible that all these folks decided to start doping right after he left and, if not, that he could beat all of them so decisively as a clean rider….7 years in a row!! I mean one more year in the Tour and we very well might have added his name to that list.
He must feel like the luckiest man alive to have made it out unscathed with 7 victories, humanitarian accolades, his choice of Hollywood girlfriends and hundreds of millions in earnings. Why would he jeopardize all that? Because he is bored and failing retirement? I think not.
PS And do you really believe Contador and Levi going to be domestiques for Lance or Lance to them? Contador missed his shot to defend last year, no way he takes a back seat to anyone in 2009. He would switch teams before that and Astana ain’t going to let a guy that young and good walk. Not even for Lance. (He’s 37 after all).
Allez LANCE!
It’s official…Lance Armstrong comes out of retirement.
Yes, I’m on a Livestrong mailing list and we got the official word that he is coming out of retirement. Ride on!
After winning the town series mountain bike ride in Aspen last night, Lance confirmed that he is coming out of retirement. Apparently there is a press conference scheduled for Sept 14th in NYC.