Professional Cycling For the Fans - Armstong targets eighth Tour win

Seven-time Tour de France champion pops question to rock star girlfriend and considers riding again.

By Suzanne Halliburton

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Monday, September 05, 2005

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong made two significant announcements Monday regarding his future. He and rock star Sheryl Crow are engaged and are planning a spring wedding. And Armstrong confirmed that he is "thinking" about coming out of retirement and defending his Tour yellow jersey. Armstrong made these relevations during an interview with the American-Statesman.

Given that Armstrong and Crow have been living together for 18 months, the engagement isn't that surprising, although since May, they've constantly had to dispel breakup rumors started by European newspapers.

However, Armstrong has only entertained the idea of riding the Tour next July for about the last two weeks. He first started mulling the idea after a French newspaper reported Aug. 22 that Armstrong tested positive six times for a banned blood booster as he was winning his first Tour in 1999. "I'm thinking about it," Armstrong said Monday. "I'm thinking it's the best way to piss (the French) off." When asked how serious his "thinking" was, Armstrong replied: "I'm exercising every day."

http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/other/09/5lance.html

He's going to pull a Michael Jordan... with the Wizards.

Armstrong is engaged and contemplating a comeback
Seven-time Tour de France champion pops question to rock star girlfriend and considers riding again.
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Monday, September 05, 2005

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong made two significant announcements Monday regarding his future.

He and rock star Sheryl Crow are engaged and are planning a spring wedding.

And Armstrong confirmed that he is "thinking" about coming out of retirement and defending his Tour yellow jersey.

Armstrong made these relevations during an interview with the American-Statesman.

Given that Armstrong and Crow have been living together for 18 months, the engagement isn't that surprising, although since May, they've constantly had to dispel breakup rumors started by European newspapers.

However, Armstrong has only entertained the idea of riding the Tour next July for about the last two weeks. He first started mulling the idea after a French newspaper reported Aug. 22 that Armstrong tested positive six times for a banned blood booster as he was winning his first Tour in 1999.

"I'm thinking about it," Armstrong said Monday. "I'm thinking it's the best way to piss (the French) off."

When asked how serious his "thinking" was, Armstrong replied: "I'm exercising every day."

Armstrong has made a career out of proving people wrong. After all, this is the athlete who won a record seven Tours after surviving advanced testicular cancer in 1996.

He is at his best when he has a motivational boulder on his shoulder. Since the articles in L'Equipe, an all-sports daily paper based in Paris, Armstrong has vehemently denied ever using EPO, a blood booster that cyclists have used illegally for years to get an edge on the peloton.

A French laboratory outside Paris, in order to perfect a relatively new test for EPO, used urine samples provided by the cyclists in 1999 as a research tool. All samples were anonymous and assigned a number. All were B or backup specimens— the A samples were tested and discarded in 1999. Armstrong provided 17 samples in 1999, representing every day he wore the leader's yellow jersey in the three-week long race. Researchers have concluded that EPO can stay in a body and be detected by a urine test for up to a week. According to L'Equipe, which said it was able to match up the numbers with the names of the cyclists, Armstrong tested positive six times. It did not mention the other 11 samples.

The international cycling union (UCI) started an investigation into the matter, Aug. 29. The organization, which is based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is expected to make an announcement regarding its investigation later this week. USA Cycling already has issued a statement supporting Armstrong.

Armstrong announced in April that this would be his final year of competition. He stayed conservative in July's Tour, winning only one stage, but still enjoyed a comfortable, 4 minute, 20-second margin over Italy's Ivan Basso.

As for the engagment, Armstrong popped the question to Crow last Wednesday while the two were vacationing in Sun Valley, Idaho.

"We've told family and friends, stuff like that," said Armstrong, who talked over his engagement with his three young children before he asked Crow.

It will be Armstrong's second marriage and the first for Crow.

Although still officially retired, Armstrong hasn't been able to spend that much time in Austin. He's maintaing that hectic schedule at least through mid-September. He's set to tape a segment for the Oprah show Wednesday. And he'll travel to Idaho to meet with the Dali Lhama next week.

shalliburton@statesman.com; 445-3954

Here's the article:

Armstrong is engaged and contemplating a comeback

Seven-time Tour de France champion pops question to rock star girlfriend and considers riding again.

By Suzanne Halliburton

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Monday, September 05, 2005

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong made two significant announcements Monday regarding his future.

He and rock star Sheryl Crow are engaged and are planning a spring wedding.

And Armstrong confirmed that he is "thinking" about coming out of retirement and defending his Tour yellow jersey.

Armstrong made these relevations during an interview with the American-Statesman.

Given that Armstrong and Crow have been living together for 18 months, the engagement isn't that surprising, although since May, they've constantly had to dispel breakup rumors started by European newspapers.

However, Armstrong has only entertained the idea of riding the Tour next July for about the last two weeks. He first started mulling the idea after a French newspaper reported Aug. 22 that Armstrong tested positive six times for a banned blood booster as he was winning his first Tour in 1999.

"I'm thinking about it," Armstrong said Monday. "I'm thinking it's the best way to piss (the French) off."

When asked how serious his "thinking" was, Armstrong replied: "I'm exercising every day."

Armstrong has made a career out of proving people wrong. After all, this is the athlete who won a record seven Tours after surviving advanced testicular cancer in 1996.

He is at his best when he has a motivational boulder on his shoulder. Since the articles in L'Equipe, an all-sports daily paper based in Paris, Armstrong has vehemently denied ever using EPO, a blood booster that cyclists have used illegally for years to get an edge on the peloton.

A French laboratory outside Paris, in order to perfect a relatively new test for EPO, used urine samples provided by the cyclists in 1999 as a research tool. All samples were anonymous and assigned a number. All were B or backup specimens— the A samples were tested and discarded in 1999. Armstrong provided 17 samples in 1999, representing every day he wore the leader's yellow jersey in the three-week long race. Researchers have concluded that EPO can stay in a body and be detected by a urine test for up to a week. According to L'Equipe, which said it was able to match up the numbers with the names of the cyclists, Armstrong tested positive six times. It did not mention the other 11 samples.

The international cycling union (UCI) started an investigation into the matter, Aug. 29. The organization, which is based in Lausanne, Switzerland, is expected to make an announcement regarding its investigation later this week. USA Cycling already has issued a statement supporting Armstrong.

Armstrong announced in April that this would be his final year of competition. He stayed conservative in July's Tour, winning only one stage, but still enjoyed a comfortable, 4 minute, 20-second margin over Italy's Ivan Basso.

As for the engagment, Armstrong popped the question to Crow last Wednesday while the two were vacationing in Sun Valley, Idaho.

"We've told family and friends, stuff like that," said Armstrong, who talked over his engagement with his three young children before he asked Crow.

It will be Armstrong's second marriage and the first for Crow.

Although still officially retired, Armstrong hasn't been able to spend that much time in Austin. He's maintaing that hectic schedule at least through mid-September. He's set to tape a segment for the Oprah show Wednesday. And he'll travel to Idaho to meet with the Dali Lhama next week.

Told y'all he was going to make up for the asterisk in 1999... :rolleyes:

Yes. Yes. Yes!

Thanks for posting it - duh, should've just done a cut and paste. Wow. I'm kind of hoping he just hangs it up. Incredible career - but he should just go out on top. Screw the French press.

If he comes back the speculation will only get worse.

The story has slowly but surely started going away. He should just let it go away for good.

he's just trying to piss me off.

I thought it was against copyright rules to post more than four paragraphs or I would have posted more. Sorry because I do believe the site requires free registration.

I personally doubt Lance will actually come out of retirement. I think he's messing with his enemies. He was pretty emphatic about it when asked over and over again before, during, and after the tour. He owns a place in my community -- I'll ask him about it next time I see him. ;)

Get a life!

Would really suck if he does it again and looses.

I personally doubt Lance will actually come out of retirement. I think he's messing with his enemies. He was pretty emphatic about it when asked over and over again before, during, and after the tour.

Yup, that would also be my guess. Flash to tomorrow’s L’Equipe headline:

"Disgraced Doper Coming Back to le Tour!" :)

So he's going for a seventh win? :p

Maybe this was part of L'Equipe's evil plan. The tabloid is owned by the same people who own the TdF. No one has made more many for the TdF than Armstrong. Now, L'Equipe may have just goaded him back.

Seriously, if Armstrong comes back, L'Equipe (and its owners) will be laughing all the way to the bank.

Maybe this was part of L'Equipe's evil plan. The tabloid is owned by the same people who own the TdF. No one has made more many for the TdF than Armstrong. Now, L'Equipe may have just goaded him back.

Seriously, if Armstrong comes back, L'Equipe (and its owners) will be laughing all the way to the bank.

I agree, the real reason goes back to selling more papers and making more money. The controversy created now is selling more papers already, I'm sure. When it's a slow news day.......make some news.

something about wanting to stick it up France's @ss with a red hot poker... (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2005/sep05/sep06newsflash)

Go, boy, go.... :D

In another thread, several had spoken of his "retirement"....he will be in Austin at the Discovery training camp in December...

They shoulda left him alone....

Maybe Ullrich will sue L'Equipe..... :D

yesss...I didnt want to know what the tour would be like without him.

Jake

according to the Austin Statesman newspaper.

Apparently just piss of the french for accusing him of being doped

I just thought this was a hilarious article, a typical Armstrong response which I love just to piss the french off :)

http://eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s18/e7203/sport_lng0_spo18_evt7203_sto762385.shtml

Lance Armstrong has hinted to the American press that he might come out of retirement to try for an eighth Tour de France victory. Having announced his engagement to Sheryl Crow, the American dropped the bombshell, jesting that it might anger the French following the recent doping allegations.

Asked by the Austin American-Statesman whether his forthcoming spring wedding to rock-star Crow could be followed by a summer Tour, Armstrong replied:

"I'm thinking about it. I'm thinking it's the best way to piss (the French) off."

The 33-year-old seven-time Tour de France champion admitted that he had been harbouring the idea of returning to the sport to defend his crown for the past two weeks.

He said that the notion had come to him after French sports daily l'Equipe had reported on 23 August that the Texan had tested positive on six occasions for the blood-boosting drug EPO during his inaugural 1999 Tour win.

Armstrong has since plaintively rebuked all the charges levelled against him by the French press.

When asked how serious he was about returning to French shores to race next July, Armstrong confirmed: "I'm exercising every day."

Discovery Channel sports director Johan Bruyneel added further speculation to Amstrong's desire to race again.

"Yes, the quote from Lance in the Austin American-Statesman is certain," Bruyneel told Cyclingnews from a team car on the Vuelta A Espana.

"You know, we had some retirement parties in Nice after the Tour and then Lance went back to the States and took it easy for a few weeks. Then he called me three weeks later and said 'I'm back on the bike... I'm getting bored and missing the exercise, the riding'."

The Belgian underlined that "I'm not excluding a comeback by Lance for 2006, but can't confirm anything until I talk to him. It's not impossible."

It remains to be seen whether Armstrong's words were just a gut-reaction to the latest set of allegations that have tarnished his name. But one thing's for sure: the American has made a career out of proving people wrong, and invariably performs better with a motivational chip on his shoulder.

Say it ain't so!!!

Cycling News confirms that Armstrong is bored, and wants back on the bike competitively. The most tested athlete on the planet still feels he has something to prove. NOT!!!!!!!
Enjoy retirement Lance, marry Crow and live the good life. What you have accomplished will not be repeated. (At least not in the next 7 years.)

This should be interesting.....I just hope he wins if he decides to do it, because going out on top is really the way to go. Coming back after retirement and then losing would just suck.

Merged.

Oh ****..

Heard it last night (local news)
that Lance is contemplating "unretiring" because it's the best
way to "piss off the french" (Austin Statesman).

more here:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2005/sep05/sep06newsflash

well if he does at least we will get TdF on Only Lance Network.

Marty

I wasnt surprised in the least when I read this earlier... Great marketing for Discovery Channel.

should he? will he? or wont he? the debate & waiting begins...

Yup, that would also be my guess. Flash to tomorrow’s L’Equipe headline:

"Disgraced Doper Coming Back to le Tour!" :)

you got that right. He should stay out of it and above it all.

Merged.
thanks,
never looked in TdF subforum. . . since it's been over for over
a month now!

marty

All of the local news stations that I saw covered Lance's engagement last night and this morning but I didn't hear anything about him coming out of retirement. Even if the Statesman has the "scoop," it seems like the other stations would have reported it, unless they don't really believe it?

It seems like this would be reason enough for TDF organizers to control their newspaper. I mean, Lance is great business in his own right but he severely limits the excitement of the TDF by dominating it so thoroughly.

Race organizers want a race for 1st not for 2nd.

I have nothing against Lance, but I hope he stays retired. My fiancee just took up cycling last season, and she's yet to see a Lance-free tour where the yellow is really up for grabs.

I might be a little clueless here, but if he misses the competition and wants to P.O. the french as well, why not forget the tdf, and train for a Giro or Vuelta win?

I heard it on the ABC nightly news after the football game.
Now Lance's spokesman is reporting that it was a joke,
that he was just saying that to PO the french, or something like that.

Marty

I think it's probably more accurate to say 'l'Equipe' rather than 'the French'.

Yeah. He never utters a word about France, but all the foaming-at-the-mouth bigots here will pick it up and run with it anyway.

I might be a little clueless here, but if he misses the competition and wants to P.O. the french as well, why not forget the tdf, and train for a Giro or Vuelta win?

That would work if Lance were as good as his fans make him out to be. Perhaps it would have worked a few years ago, at least for the Giro. Lance is perfectly suited for the TDF. The climbs of the Vuelta do not suit him at all and even the climbs of the Giro are often better suited to pure climbers than to Lance.

and even the climbs of the Giro are often better suited to pure climbers than to Lance.

Yup, just ask Salvodelli. Dooh. Sorry, you do have a good point, but I just couldn't help myself. :)

he's just trying to piss me off.
Absolutely!

I like Lance. I think he's great. I'm glad he won seven in a row. If he comes back to the TDF, I hope he gets beat like a government mule.

Can't wait for the Trek "8 Is Great!" Sweepstakes. I mean c'mon.

"Merde!" - Jan Ulrich.

Future headline in l'Equipe.

I heard the Lance is leaving Discovery to race for Zed Poof!

Sorry, here's a visual aid for those who can't remember before Indurain.

If Armstrong wants to come back, why not do something impressive, like ride the Paris-Roubaix and the Giro?

I'm getting real sick of reading about Lance's love life.

Armstrong apparently put out a press release confirming that he’s thinking about a comeback. Here’s a link to a CNN/SI story about the press release:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/more/09/06/bc.cyc.armstrong.retirement.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

I don’t, however, think that an Armstrong comeback would piss off his arch-nemesis, L’Equipe… it would boost their circulation and give them more to write about.

this is dumb. "comeback" my @$$. a comeback would be missing 2 tours then coming back. a few weeks vacation is no "comeback".

does jan speak french? if he didn't he'd something more like "shiza". (i can't spell german.)

does jan speak french? if he didn't he'd something more like "shiza". (i can't spell german.)
Good pronounciation. Any you are right, he probaly would say "Scheiße".

poor Jan. (almost) always a bridesmaid, (almost) never a bride...

I'm getting real sick of reading about Lance's love life.

Is someone forcing you to read certain things? Or is it you cannot help yourself.....

I'm starting to not like Lance. There was a TDF way before him, and there will be one way after he's retired for good. I see no benefit to pissing off anyone.

its not going to happen. Honestly I love the guy, and hes great. But he wouldnt piss the french off he would just get more crap. They'll start making up even more bullshiz then ever.

Is someone forcing you to read certain things? Or is it you cannot help yourself.....

It's totally polluted the cycling and popular press because the press is too poorly informed to write about anything else. OK, a great cyclist, but I could give two ****s about the cult of Lance.