2009 Tour de France: A Lance Comback?
 

Sports talk show says that Lance Armstrong is considering a comeback in bike racing and may compete in the 2009 Tour de France

I bet Tour officials are estatic at this mega star returning after IMO a rather lackluster 2008 tour

Just what the Tour needs IMO

Don't hold your breath.

The French idea of what the tour needs, is a French winner.

Stu Dudley

It would be a boon however for French testing labs

not saying Lance does (or didn't) but he would be the most closely tested guy ever - esp it he were in contention

The Brett Favre of cycling! Just when Bob Roll of Versus learned how to say "Tour de France!"

It seems to be all but officially announced. But I can't see him riding as a domestique for either Contador or Leipheimer, and I can't see either of them, at this point in their careers, doing the same for him.

oh Lance,, wasn't he the guy who dated and dumped Chery Crow, after dumping his wife who stayed by him when he was ill, .. nice guy,, yech...

Shallow turd, all he does is date movie stars and go to premieres now,, he had better change back into an athlete quick if he doesn't want to embarrass himself next year.

>>after dumping his wife who stayed by him when he was ill, .. nice guy,, yech...
<<

Get your facts correct bozama. He did not meet Kristin until he was cured from cancer. Also, in all the stories I've read, it was never disclosed about who dumped who - and it's my guess is that nobody was "dumped".

He does like blonds.

Stu Dudley

I LOVED the 2008 Tour. What was "lackluster" about it--not knowing who might win! I LOVE Lance also, but I thought the Tour was superb.

StuDudley wrote: "He does like blonds."

So he's gay?

And yeah, get your facts right about Kristin. Divorce happens. She was his nurse. They have great kids. He is a good dad. I doubt Sheryl Crowe needs your protection either.
As for "would be closely tested" if he did. He already IS the MOST tested. Prove the stuff. GET OVER IT.

Does anybody care about cycling? I mean, other than the French and those that enjoy watching one leader after another fall victim to drug testing?

<i>not saying Lance does (or didn't)</i>

Virtually all of them take some sort of performance enhancing drug. Let's not be naive. The money is too big and the competition too intense. Heck, there were rumors of folks taking steroids at my high school, and nobody from my high school was getting a scholarship to a D-I school, much less becoming a top athlete in any sport.

Gretchen - I don't think Kristen was even his nurse. I believe she was some sort of marketing rep when they met at a party or something like that. I loand my &quot;Not About the Bike&quot; book to someone, so I can't verify that.

Stu Dudley

Velonews.com is reporting that he will stage a comeback. He has started 'out of competition' blood testing - a requirement to start 6 months before competition.

LOL&lt; gee Gretchen got a crush on him or something,, geesh, couldn't you at least crush on a cutie..

It's been a few years since i read his book; i recall that his future wife, Kristin worked in the health care industry. That they were either together or married while he was undergoing treatment and she was basically by his side the whole way (They met shortly after diagnosis). Whatever, marriages happen as do divorces.
It will be interesting to see how he works with Contador and Leipheimer. My guess is that the proof will be in his performance in events leading up to the tour. If he is not in form then he will not be seen as the leader. Or perhaps, a leader will come to the forefront during the tour itself. This year's winner was not apparent until alpe d'huez, when the stage winner just took off on his own.
I do know that i would love to see Lance return! As you can tell from the above, i can't even remember the main players at this year's tour!

The Tour, and most Europeans are quite happy with this year's edition of the great race. Lance will not return, he has nothing to gain from it. He does however have a lot to lose by returning and the press scandalisation would make the actual race merely a sideshow.

NYtimes reports today that it is virtually a done deal - joining a team however that was banned during last year's tour for doping.

Lance will post his blood test results daily online (though these are tests his team will do)

Well i don't know bout others or French but this will perk up my interest and i'm sure American TV ratings

I'm really hoping that Lance will ride in the Amgen Tour of California, since stage 1 will finish in my home town.

Incidentally, tekwriter, Bob Roll always knew how to pronounce the &quot;de&quot; in Tour de France. Giving the word Italian pronunciation was just something of a joke.

I'm not sure that Lance will dare to return with the new drug tests. But perhaps he thinks he has found a new undetectable product.

What really amazes me are the comments about the importance of the champions of one or another country winning the race. Perhaps France is atypical, but it has never been obsessed with the idea of a French cyclist winning. There is pride when a Frenchman wins a stage, but the French are very excited about various cyclists of other countries, and you will find them rooting for all sorts of &quot;foreigners&quot; that they like. Are Americans incapable of this?

Underhill... really?? LOL That was always the biggest drawback to watching the broadcasts, hearing him mangle that simple phrase. I'd say that joke went on waaay too long! At least they got him to say it somewhat correctly this year so I could concentrate on enjoying the shots of the French scenery!