I think Lance got board with giving speeches for his foundation. I think he wants to try to win the TDF for more recognition and it will bring more media attention to bear on his foundation and himself. He will probably make more money from product endorsement deals than from the salary he is claiming to not be collecting.

Perhaps he thinks the riders are clean enough now that he can compete completely clean on a level playing field. Either that or there is some gene doping going on which cannot be detected from blood tests. I also think that he is trying to clear his name and to prove that he did win most of his TDF victories clean.

This is really an interesting development.