Lance Armstrong: His Uphill Battles

Lance Armstrong: His Uphill Battles

Once upon a time, in the world of cycling Lance Armstrong was always near the top, but could never quite get there—especially when it came to the Tour de France, the sport's premier event. And then he got cancer. The rest is history: seven straight yellow jerseys from the Tour, the most ever. Now retired from the cycling world, he barnstorms the planet on behalf of cancer research. The yellow "LIVESTRONG" bands that his foundation sold adorn celebrity wrists and started a cottage industry of silicone bracelets. But more than anything, Armstrong used sheer will and his bicycle to give hope to millions of people with cancer. His foundation has raised more than $150 million, which to Armstrong might mean even more than his seven Tour de France victories.

—Lisa Miller