Lance Armstrong retires from cycling
This was the day Lance Armstrong finally retired from cycling.
Lance Armstrong once said, "I figure the faster I pedal, the faster I can retire." That day has finally come, what a career his was.
I can't believe this is the day Lance Armstrong finally retired from cycling - there will be no third comeback. He had hoped his farewell would take place on the Champs Elysees. But it did not. It was however a long fought and well earned if quiet farewell for Armstrong, who announced his retirement sitting in a press meeting in Austin, Texas today. I had hoped to see him at the Tour of California, or the Quiznos Pro Challenge in 2011. Those opportunities have passed as a fan.
A little history on Lance Armstrong:
I can't believe this is the day Lance Armstrong finally retired from cycling - there will be no third comeback. He had hoped his farewell would take place on the Champs Elysees. But it did not. It was however a long fought and well earned if quiet farewell for Armstrong, who announced his retirement sitting in a press meeting in Austin, Texas today. I had hoped to see him at the Tour of California, or the Quiznos Pro Challenge in 2011. Those opportunities have passed as a fan.
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| Lance Armstrong at the 2010 TDF. Photo by: PedalDancer.com |
- he became a professional triathlete in 1989, he became a professional road cyclist in 1992
- he won the US National Road Championship and the World Road Championship in 1993
- his cancer diagnosis was on October 2, 1996, at age 25
- his first big comeback year was in 1998 (from cancer)
- Lance Armstrong won 7 Tour de France races (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2004)
- he retired in 2005
- in 2007 Armstrong ran the NYC Marathon in 2h 46m 43s finishing 232nd
- he announced his second big comeback in cycling on September 9, 2008
- he finished 3rd in the 2009 Tour de France, he thought he could win again
- he finished 23rd in the 2010 Tour de France, although his team RadioShack won best team
- he finished 65th in his last race, which was the Tour Down Under in Australia in January 2011
- he has five children
- he plans to spend his time on the Livestrong foundation he began in 1997
Several months ago a friend sent me my favorite Lance Armstrong quote when I needed it most:
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” - Lance Armstrong
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” - Lance Armstrong
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| Armstrong Dancing on the Pedals in Denver in 2010. Photo by PedalDancer.com |
Ask Nick: So, what was it like, working with Lance?
By Nick Legan Published Feb 16th 2011 5:37 PM EST
By Nick Legan Published Feb 16th 2011 5:37 PM EST