The organizers of the Tour de France have made it clear that no team that has a rider, manager, doctor, or coaches linked to doping will be allowed in the 2009 Tour.

That is the reason Astana was NOT allowed to participate in the 2008 Tour...ties to Johan Bruyneel and "Dr" Ferrari. Unless Astana drops Bruyneel and all of the riders who have used Dr. Ferrari, Astana is unlikely to be allowed at the Tour in 2009.

Because any team that hires a rider linked to Dr. Ferrari will NOT be allowed in the Tour, there will not be a long line of teams seeking to sign Armstrong. There is simply NO guarantee that the Tour would allow Armstrong to race, even if he severs his ties to Ferrari and Bruyneel. The Tour has turned its back on dopers and all of the cyclists with links to coaches and "doctors" who encouraged doping.

And, IF the Tour permitted Armstrong to race, he would be subjected to heavy testing by French labs. No rider has ever won the Tour de France at age 37. And not many have won the Tour "clean". To win the Tour at age 37 AND win "clean" is asking someone to do the nearly impossible.

So, it is unlikely Armstrong will be permitted to begin the Tour. And, even more unlikely he will be on the podium in Paris. A defeat in the Tour will say to the world "Now that effective testing is being done, Armstrong is no longer a first rank cyclist".

Armstrong should accept the fact that time has passed him by. Time to be a full-time parent. Time to grow up.