Armstrong comeback - what on Earth did he do it for?

Lance Armstrong - Lance Armstrong (born Lance Edward Gunderson September 18, 1971) is an American professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTeam Team Astana. He won the Tour de France a record-breaking seven consecutive years, from 1999 to 2005. He is the only individual to win seven times, having broken the previous record of five wins, shared by Miguel Indurain (consecutive) and Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx and Jacques Anquetil. He has survived testicular cancer, a germ cell tumor that metastasized to his brain and lungs, in 1996. His cancer treatments included brain and testicular surgery and extensive chemotherapy, and his prognosis was originally poor.
@stvasile (7306)
Romania
October 7, 2008 4:13pm CST
Lance Armstrong, 7 times winner of Le Tour de France announced his return to cycling. He will lead the team Astana, alongside Alberto Contador. What I really don't get, is why he returned... What for? Considering that Astana has been banned from Le Tour de France in 2008 for suspicion of doping, why didn't he signed for another team? I'm referring on Le Tour de France alone, because it's the only competition that made him famous (his other important titles are World Cycling Champion (1993), US National Cycling Champion (1993), Clásica de San Sebastián (1995), La Flèche Wallonne (1996), Tour de Suisse (2001), Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (2002, 2003)). Why do you think he came back? For the money? For the fame? Just to bring global awareness on cancer? I thought he's already done that...
3 responses
numerator
@numerator (66)
• India
8 Oct 08
well.. i guess .. his love for the sport brought him back.. its not easy to let go of something you love .. also .. maybe he wanna test himself.. since he won 7 consecutive tour de france title and he was dominant while winning all of them..so .. he wanna see whether he has in himself to repeat the same feat against new crop of cyclists ... :).. and the money , fame and global awareness are just add on's u can say .. :)
1 person likes this
stvasile
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
8 Oct 08
OK, but how will he compete against other cyclists and have exposure if he isn't allowed in Le Tour de France? In the other competitions? Honestly now, have you ever watched Paris-Tours or Tour de Lombardie? I don't see those competitions on the news very much...
stvasile
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
11 Oct 08
I just found out Lance was invited to participate next year in Il Giro. That's a great competition to be at!
Troublegum
@Troublegum (641)
• United States
13 Nov 08
I think he secretly wants to race other races. I mean really, he started out as a triathlete, and once he won the tour he got roped into defending it for 7 years. Don't you think he would think it was fun to go race the Giro? maybe this was his way of ensuring that he could do some races without having to worry about defending a title.
1 person likes this
Philbo
@Philbo (578)
• Canada
20 Jul 09
I think he came back because it's what he does and what he is. Fifteen stages into the tour and it is obvious he still can. I still don't think he is going to win his eighth and never thought he would. Cancer awareness is a great cover for him. He can go out and race without having to be the winner. He is racing because he wants to be out there racing.