Viva Lance Armstrong

photo by: NickBarlow

It’s been a constant part of the rumors surrounding Armstrong’s comeback, that should Lance return he would most likely ride for his longtime friend and manager Johan Bruyneel. But it was complicated, Astana had been suspended from last year’s tour as a penalty for doping charges in the previous tour (though almost none of that team remained on the 08 squad), but most importantly the team was already loaded with talent, and GC contenteders including ‘07 Champion Alberto Contador, Andres Kloden and fellow American Levi Leiepheimer.

But at a press conference in New York following his speech at the Clinton Global Initiative, Lance officially declared his intention to join Astana for the 09 season. Lance won’t receive any salary or bonuses as a member of Astana.

“Everybody in cycling has a team and takes a team salary,” he says. “I am essentially racing for free. No salary. No bonus. Nothing on the line.… This one’s on the house. And you know what? At the end of the day, I don’t need money.… Not only will I be fine, my kids will be fine, my grandkids will be fine.¹”

Armstrong has made it clear that his main motivation for returning to cycling is to take his fight on cancer to the global stage and not neccesarily to win an eight Tour de France.  Anyone who knows Lance though knows he’s not going to half ass his comeback.  Since retiring he’s already run two marathons (which he called the ‘hardest physical thing he’s ever done’ and keeps in top physical shape, most recently competing in one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world.

As Lance says:

“I don’t like to lose in anything. Anything.¹”

photo by: Bob AuBuchon

Early reports of a Lance comeback had Astana leader and fresh Tour of Spain victor Alberto Contador on the defensive about his role as team leader and the possibility of Lance joining his team.  Contador even suggested that he might quit the team if Lance was added.

“It would be quite complicated. I think I’ve earned the right to be the leader of a team without having to fight for it,” Contador said.

“And with Armstrong, there could be difficult situations in which the team would put him first and that would harm me. ²”

Nonetheless early interviews with Contador following Lance’s formal announcement to join Astana  have revealed he has no plans as of yet to quit the team and that his manager has assured him he’s still the top rider on the team.  Bruyneel also added that Lance has clear motive for returning and that Contador was under contract with the team anyway for another two years.

“I have invested a lot of my time into Alberto’s development and he will remain with this team for the next two years,” said the Astana manager (Johna Bruyneel) in a team statement on Thursday.

“Actually, it’s pretty simple – there’s a contract and there are no options to leave. ³”

1. Vanity Fair: Lance Armstrong Rides Again [↩] [↩]
2. Velonews: Contador hesitant to ride with Armstrong [↩]
3. USA Today: Astana chief seeks teamwork from Contador and Armstrong [↩]

photo by: Rob O’Dea

“I’m going back to professional cycling. I’m going to try and win an eighth Tour de France.”

-Lance Armstrong¹

After months of rumors and speculation, Lance officially declares a comeback!  It’s an incredible move which comes three years after retiring from professional cycling following a historic 7th straight Tour de France win.

In a five page Vanity Fair exclusive article Lance talks about life being retired, his campaign against cancer, thoughts on running for governor and then details his plan to return to professional cycling.

On coming back at 37:

“Look at the Olympics. You have a swimmer like Dara Torres. Even in the 50-meter event [freestyle], the 41-year-old mother proved you can do it. The woman who won the marathon [Constantina Tomescu-Dita, of Romania] was 38. Older athletes are performing very well. Ask serious sports physiologists and they’ll tell you age is a wives’ tale. Athletes at 30, 35 mentally get tired. They’ve done their sport for 20, 25 years and they’re like, I’ve had enough. But there’s no evidence to support that when you’re 38 you’re any slower than when you were 32.¹”

On his motivation to come back:

“Then Leadville, this kind of obscure bike race, totally kick-started my engine. For me it’s always been about the process.… The process of getting there is the best part. You start the season a little out of shape, a little heavy. You get in better shape. You lose some weight. I mean you’re just crafting this perfect program. For several weeks I [had] trained [for Leadville] and went riding by myself. Obviously beautiful territory and fresh air, just feeling fit, losing weight, getting strong—living a very healthy lifestyle. I thought, This might be fun to try again.¹”

1. Vanity Fair: Lance Armstrong Rides Again [↩] [↩] [↩]