Lance Armstrong Confirms Plans To Compete In '09 Tour De France
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Armstrong May Ride In Supporting Role
In Tour De France Because Of Schedule |
Lance Armstrong yesterday confirmed that he will ride in the ’09 Tour de France, "marking the first time he will compete in that race and the Giro d’Italia in the same year," according to Jim Vertuno of the AP. Armstrong acknowledged that the "taxing schedule could leave him riding in a supporting role" in the Tour de France. Armstrong said of safety concerns during the race, "It’s not going to keep me from going and doing my job, and it’s not going to keep me from spreading my message" (AP, 12/1). In Austin, Suzanne Halliburton notes one reason Armstrong is doing both races is to "heighten awareness of his foundation's Global Cancer Initiative." Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) CEO Doug Ulman said that Armstrong is riding at the Giro because Italy is "one of three countries the LAF targeted for a specific grass roots campaign designed to eliminate a perceived stigma of a cancer diagnosis." Armstrong said the Tour de France is the "biggest and grandest Tour. Our cancer initiative will certainly stand to benefit" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 12/2).
UPHILL BATTLE: USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson said of Armstrong's return, "The cycling community will be ecstatic, the American cycling community in particular. I don't know how the rest of the world will respond." In N.Y., Joshua Robinson notes the French reaction "will probably be less enthusiastic because of Armstrong's strained relationship with officials for the Amaury Sport Organization, which owns the Tour" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/2). In Chicago, Philip Hersh writes, "What point would there have been in Armstrong's returning to competitive road racing after 3 1/2 years if he had skipped the race that brought him both fame and notoriety? ... All that yammering in a recent interview with a British newspaper about fears for his safety? Clearly just a way to manipulate sentiment when Armstrong is riding the Tour in July" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/2).
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