Lance is Back!
Okay, so it's official - Lance Armstrong, the most dominant rider in the history of professional cycling is coming out of retirement! What was just rumor earlier is the week is now fact, according to statements on Lance's website and in an article in Vanity Fair. Lance has acknowledged his plans to return to the pro circuit in 2009, trying for his eighth Tour de France crown and success in a number of other races, all to promote cancer awareness.
"After long talks with my kids, the rest of my family and a close group of friends, I will be returning to professional cycling in 2009," said Armstrong. "The reason for this is to launch a global cancer strategy, because we lose more than eight million people a year to cancer, more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined."
I am still stunned by this development and to be honest with you am not quite sure how I feel about it. While it will be an awesome thing for professional cycling -- imagine the crowds he'll draw, especially to the U.S. races, which have suffered from anemic coporate support in recent years -- and a thrill to watch Lance race again, I just don't think a person can come back from a three-year layoff at his age (he'll be 37 soon) and still compete at the level he once did. (And no, sorry, but doing the NYC marathon a couple of times and some mountain bike racing isn't quite the same.)
I just hope we don't see Lance add his name to a long list of former athletes who tried retirement but just couldn't stay away, struggling in vain to recapture the former glory and injuring or embarassing themselves in the process. Unfortunately I think that is a very real prospect here.
Related Links
- View Lance's annoucement about his return to professional cycling
- Lance Armstrong profile
- Books about Lance
Is it a good idea for Lance to come back? Comment below.
Comments
While the New York marathon and the Leadville 100 are not the same as the Tour, they are much more dificult than they were made them out to be. At east he is just sitting around, driking beer, and getting all out of shape. He is the best athlete in the history of the sport. He will be fine. Besides, he has a while until the 2009 season starts. Lance will do whatever he sets his mind to.
I agree with Rusty. Lance will do what ever he sets his mind to. I also think that the 2008 Olympics were a great inspiration for the middle age group such as Lance. Torrez is the top of my list at age 41. She missed a gold by one hundredth of a second. The winner of the women’s marathon,Tomeschu, was 38 years old! Wow! Morocco that got 2nd in the mens’s marathon was 36. How about the gymnyst from Germany that was 32. So age won’t have anything to do with it. One has also got to think that Micheal Phelps “eight” golds might have put that record breaking competiveness back into Lance.
I am predicting an Armstrong victory int he TDF this next year. He prepares like no other and will know all the ins and outs of every switchback and critical climb. He will also have a great team…Contador, Leipheimer to name a few. The problem is that they are used to be leaders, not domestiques.