Armstong Returns

Lance Armstrong is coming out of retirement in 2009. Motivated by a second place finish to Dave Weins at the Leadville 100- a brutal 100 mile round trip Mountain Bike race above 10,000 feet with 14,000′ of elevation gain.

According to the press release on livestrong.com, Armstrong will use his return to increase worldwide cancer awareness.

The real question is does he still have the right stuff? Chris Carmichael recently said that after Lance’s 2nd place finish to in the Leadville 100 Lance was reborn, re motivated and mentally as intense as he was in 1999. Which as we all know was the beginning of his remarkable 7 year in a row winning streak in the Tour!

The issue is that Lance is a bit older now and we all assume he has been riding but it is difficult for any one to get into shape for the Tour, but I suppose if any one can Lance Armstrong would be the one.

Although Lance’s victories have been over shadowed by rumors of doping and other vicious attacks he has never tested positive and perhaps the most difficult thing for people to swallow is that he not only beat cancer but rose to the top of the road cycling world and held the title for so long. Let us not forget that Lance is a great force in the fight against cancer and that with his popularity and fame he has risen awareness of little yellow bracelets…I mean cancer.

Rarely do we have such a public figure go through so much and be challenged as relentlessly and still maintain on the top of his game. I personally think he is a remarkable athlete and a true champion.

Lance has not oficially joined any team for the 2009 Tour and I wonder if there will be a dedicated Livestrong team representing in the Tour de France this year???