Team Denies Report Of Lance Armstrong Coming Out Of Retirement
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Armstrong To Race For Astana
Cycling Team Next Year? |
Cyclist Lance Armstrong will "come out of retirement next year to compete in five road races with the Astana team," including the '09 Tour de France, according to sources cited by Neal Rogers of VELONEWS.com. The sources said that Armstrong will "race for neither salary nor bonuses" and an "exclusive article on the matter will be published" in the October issue of Vanity Fair. But Astana Press Officer Philippe Maertens said, "He is no part of our team. Team Astana has no plans with him." Rogers noted the speculation is that Armstrong will reunite with former Team Discovery Team Dir Johan Bruyneel, who now serves in the same position with Team Astana. That would be a "viable option given Armstrong's long-lasting relationships not only with [Bruyneel] but also Trek, Astana's bike sponsor." Sources added that Armstrong will "post all of his internally tested blood work online, in an attempt to establish complete transparency and prove that he is a clean athlete." USA Cycling COO Sean Petty said that Armstrong prior to last month's Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race, "re-enrolled himself into the [USADA's] out-of-competition testing pool" (VELONEWS.com, 9/8). But Petty added that Armstrong's rejoining the testing pool "did not necessarily signal his comeback." Petty: "It's just the protocol. I think he was just following the rules after getting a domestic license from us" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/9). USA Cycling said that Armstrong has not applied for an int'l cycling license, but Petty said that Armstrong "typically did not request such a license until January or February" (London TELEGRAPH, 9/9).
THE REAL DEAL? In Manchester, Sam Collins notes skeptics have "dismissed Armstrong's return as little more than a publicity stunt to advertise" the upcoming Vanity Fair story (Manchester GUARDIAN, 9/9). ESPN.com's Bonnie Ford noted reaction in the "cycling world was cautious," as the sport has been "engaged in a concerted and desperate effort to rehabilitate its troubled image by ratcheting up testing." Team Columbia Owner Bob Stapleton said of Armstrong's supposed return, "It really just depends on what this is about. He's a potentially divisive force for sure -- a hero to millions, and others question him." But Team Garmin-Chipotle Owner Doug Ellis said Armstrong "brings so much attention and such an incredible fan base to the sport that I think the way we would look at it is, a rising tide lifts all boats" (ESPN.com, 9/8).
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