Lance Armstrong has shocked the cycling world by announcing a comeback aged 37, after a 3 year lay off.
It is likely that he will return to Johan Bruyneels team. Bruyneel said:
“We have a close relationship and if he were to resume competing I can’t imagine him going to CSC or Rabobank…”
However, nothing has been confirmed at the present moment.
If Lance does make a comeback next year, he will face one of his greatest challenges; it is hard to say whether he will have the fitness to challenge the new generation of Contador, Valverde and the Schleck brothers.
Lance Armstrong comeback
We may never know for certain, if Lance Armstrong took performance enhancing drugs. There has been intense scrutiny and speculation, but, nothing has ever been proved on a legal basis.
These are some of the circumstantial factors around the issue.
- Drug taking was rife in the 1990s. Many cyclists, who never failed a drugs test, have gone on to admit their guilt e.g. Bjarne Riss, Festina Team, Richard Virenque, Alex Zulle, Dave Millar, Erik Zabel. Numerous top pros have claimed that the % of pros taking EPO in the late 80s was incredibly high.
- Team mates of Lance Armstrong have later gone on to fail drugs tests. Some of the highest profile names include Manuel Beltran (2008 EPO), Floyd Landis (Testosterone in Tour de France after miracle recovery ride) and Tyler Hamilton (blood doping at Olympics)
- In 2006 former teammate Frankie Andreu claimed that EPO was used within the team. Although they never claimed to see Armstrong take EPO, the suspicion was that EPO use was rife in the team.
- Lance Armstrong took advice and was close friends with controversial doctor, Michael Ferrari. Michael Ferrari has been implicated in many high level doping issues. He was eventually tried and found guilty on some counts of sporting fraud (although he was also cleared on more serious counts)
- A key factor in Ferrari’s conviction was the testimony of Italian cyclist Fillipo Simeoni [1]. Lance Armstrong displayed his intense displeasure at F. ‘betrayal’ of cycling unwritten code of not speaking about doping. Lance Armstrong chased him down in a stage of the Tour de France, even though he presented no threat to the overall lead.
- L’Equipe claimed on August 23, 2005, that there was evidence Lance Armstrong failed a dope tests (for EPO) from a 1999 Tour de France stage [2]. There is much controversy over the legality of looking at dope test from several years ago. However, it was argued that Armstrong’s samples indicated EPO use. Armstrong denied any wrong doing and the validity of the tests has never been proved on a legal basis. However, tour boss Jean-Marie Leblanc, claimed it was a scientific fact Armstrong took dope.
- LA Confidential: The Secrets of Lance Armstrong, co-written by journalists David Walsh and Pierre Ballester was published in an attempt to prove a link between Armstrong and doping. The book admits they mainly use circumstantial evidence. Armstrong began a strong legal challenge to the book and demanded an apology for its claims.
- Lance Armstrong has always denied drug use. His innocence has not been disputed by official legal challenges. He may have been a victim to the intense scrutiny any cycling champion is likely to face in an era of widespread drug use. He also says he has given his own money to fight illegal doping.
- At the very least, we may express disappointment over the way he chose to use Michael Ferrari, a doctor with a long history of doping allegations. (amongst other things Ferrari claimed EPO was the same as drinking orange juice). Armstrong claims he just went for ordinary training advice. But, if that was the case he could easily have chosen many other trainers who didn’t have the same bad reputation.One thing is absolutely certain, if Armstrong didn’t take any performance enhancing drugs, it is even more remarkable given the fact that nearly all his rivals have admitted their guilt or at least have strong suspicions lying over them.Lance Armstrong was a truly gifted athlete, perhaps the best of his generation; it is sad that his many great achievements have inevitably fallen under a cloud of suspicion. A cloud of suspicion we have to blame mostly on the cycling authorities for their long standing desire to sweep the issues under the carpet.
[1] Simeoni and Armstrong Spat at Tour
[2] EPO test at 1999 Tour de France
[3] Strong Arm tactics at Scotsman
Lance Armstrong Links
Doping Issues in Cycling
Lance Armstrong Biography
The life and career of Lance Armstrong is quite extraordinary. Lance has won the Tour De France, the toughest and most prestigious cycling event for 7 consecutive years 1999 –2005. What makes this record even more remarkable is his well documented recovery from a near fatal attack of cancer. Lance recovered from this painful experience to become, against all expectations the most successful cyclist of his generation.
Lance was brought up by his Mother in Plano, Texas (his father left his mother at an early age). In his early years Lance was a very successful triathalete and would spend many hours training on his bike in the pool and running.However after training with the US Olympic development squad Lance concentrated on cycling. His rise in the amateur ranks appeared effortless, and Lance qualified for the junior world championships in Moscow in 1989. By 1991 he was the U.S. National Amateur Champion and soon after turned professional. In his pre cancer days Lance Armstrong was mainly known as a fearsome one day racer. His crowning moment of triumph came in the 1993 World Championship Race in a rain sodden Helsinki. Lance survived the numerous crashes of the race and hung on to win become World Road Race Champion. Lance started the 1996 year ranked number 1 cyclist in the World.
However during that year of Lance felt his performance unexpectedly drop for no apparent reason. After many tests Lance was diagnosed with having a form of prostrate cancer and was given a 40% of recovery. After a prolonged and painful process of chemotherapy Lance managed to overcome the cancer and slowly came back to health. Lance wanted to revive his cycling career but perhaps not unexpectedly the top teams were unwilling to take a risk.
However Lance was given a break by the US postal team, which proved to be a remarkably judicious decision. Therefore in 1998 Lance returned to the professional ranks, although he nearly quit after having to drop out of the Paris Nice Stage race in early spring. However Lance merely needed more time and by the start of the 1999 season was starting to show good form again. In fact the cancer meant Lance Armstrong had lost some weight on his upper body. This loss of muscle mass proved to be a blessing in disguise in the sense that Lance was now more competitive in the mountains. This often proved to be the decisive stage in his Tour victories.
Throughout his comeback Lance has been the subject to many accusations about drug taking. To be fair Lance has never failed a drugs test nor has any convincing evidence been produced. Many of this accusations stem from the fact Lance has become Cycling’s first superstar, his career and private life have been subject to enormous scrutiny. Nevertheless it does remain the case that professional cycling has yet to prove it has a clean bill of health and some argue Lance was ill advised to use the controversial trainer, Michele Ferrari. M.Ferrari was recently convicted of sporting fraud for advising some clients to use performance enhancing drugs. However since his conviction Lance has dropped M. Ferrari as a trainer.
Lance Armstrong was the first cyclist to win 6 Tour De France’s beating legendary names such as Miguel Indurain, Jaques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx. Some argue however that Armstrong does not have a complete palmeres, apart from the Tour he has won relatively few races. Also compared to riders such as Merckx Lance races relatively few races, concentrating all his effort on the Tour. However cycling has changed with an influx of riders from new countries, more money e.t.c. It has become much more competitive and much more difficult to be in contention for races all year round. The Tour remains the most lucrative and prestigious event, to win it 7 consecutive times could be one of sport’s greatest achievements let alone cycling’s greatest achievements.
As well as cycling Lance Armstrong is active in promoting his charitable trust The Lance Armstrong Foundation which helps raise money for cancer. The yellow wrist band “Live Strong” have proved remarkably popular starting many similar wristbands. It is uncertain what he will do in the future at one stage it was thought he may attempt to set a new World Hour Record
Since retiring from cycling Lance Armstrong recently ran the New York marathon on Nov 5th 2006. His finishing time 2 hours, 59 minutes and 36 seconds. In the last half of the race he said he suffered a lot saying
“I think I bit off more than I could chew, I thought the marathon would be easier,”
It is likely Lance will continue to look for new challenges and will probably try to improve on this time
Lance Armstrong Returns to Pro Cycling
In September 2008, Lance announced a return to procycling. Aged 37, he thinks he has a realistic chance of challenging for overall victory in the Tour de France in 2009. Lance said part of his motivation is to prove his doubters that he never took performance enhancing drugs.
Other Sites about Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong Biography
