Armstrong interview on CNN, Sept 24, 2008
Lance Armstrong Returns to Competitive Cycling
After several days of waiting for the press release and details of his return to competitive cycling. I watched Armstrong interviewed by CNN's Kiran Chetry (watch video above).
Armstrong's Preparation
Lance mentioned, he is riding his bike and hitting the gym. He plans to take off the gym sessions come January to concentrate on biking. Aware of his age by the time the 2009 Tour comes at almost 38 years of age, he said he has "snapped" back mentally and motivated to sacrifice what is required to be competitive.
Main Goal
Armstrong said his aim is to give hope to patients undergoing cancer treatments. He also mentioned raising money to educate everyone about the disease. When asked about the presidential election, where Armstrong is seen supporting John McCain. He said "Well, there are a lot of things that the future president needs to do. I think the president needs to focus on the continuum of the disease all the way from prevention to end of life."
Both presidential candidate pledged to increase support for cancer institutions. Obama even pledged to double the funding at the National Cancer Institute.
Armstrong's 2009 TdF Return, Interview on CNN
Armstrong is Coming Back for the 2009 Tour de France
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Lance Armstrong is coming for the 2009 Tour de France. Yes, you read that right! Lance Armstrong is coming back from a 3 year retirement to bid for an eight Tour de France championship.
According to vanityfair.com, Lance Armstrong said, "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," Armstrong said in a statement, while in an exclusive interview posted on vanityfair.com the 36-year-old cyclist says he has his sights set firmly on the Tour de France in 2009.
"I am going back to professional cycling. I'm going to try to win an eighth Tour de France," Armstrong told Vanity Fair.
Armstrong now 36 years of age and will turn 37 on September 18 is typically old for another grueling Tour. The oldest winner of the Tour was Firmin Lambot, at age 36 in 1922. But the sport has evolved. The training and the bike is totally different. The sport is more competitive than ever.
Lance Armstrong's comeback is said to be for cancer awareness and doubters who could not believe that the cyclist never doped. The sport is known for its illegal performance enhancing drugs the past few decades. Armstrong is said to be hiring a video crew to document his trainings.
Details of the said comeback such as a team and schedule—will be announced Sept. 24 at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City.
Wow! This is something. I'm a road cyclist. I tried to to compete last year after months of training and stopped riding for a couple of months. Guess what? I totally lost the endurance to run even on such short distance its totally different.
Lance Armstrong - 7-Time TDF Champion
Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France with a record-breaking seven consecutive years, from 1999 to 2005. Tour de France is considered to be the most demanding sport in terms of physical endurance. Usually about 2,500 kms in 23 days over 21 stages with each stage running over 100kms and about 6hrs to finish.
Early Career
Lance Armstrong is not just another sports prodigy. He started his career as a triathlete and was the number one ranked in the 19 and under age group. At a tender age of 16, Armstrong became a professional triathlete and became the national sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990 at age 18 and 19, respectively.
In 1991 Lance Armstrong won the the U.S. amateur championship in bike racing. It soon became clear that his greatest talent was found, in bicycle racing.
In 1993, Armstrong captured his first Tour de France stage victory.
A Cancer Survivor
On October 2, 1996, Lance Armstrong was found to have a testicular cancer and it had already spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain. He underwent surgery on his brain tumors and had his diseased testicle removed.
The Comeback
After he was treated, Armstrong returned to competitive cycling and finished 4th in the Tour of Spain in 1998. In 1999, he won his first Tour de France until 2005. A record braking seven consecutive years and considered to be the greatest cyclist of all time.
Lance Armstrong, became active in helping and giving hope to thousands of people undergoing cancer treatment and he was also the founder of Livestrong Foundation. He was then considered the "greatest sportsman of all time."
