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09/10/2008: "Lance Armstrong Makes His Return"
reading: Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub
Armstrong returning to cycling, will try for Tour No. 8 win - More Sports - SI.com
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Lance Armstrong is getting back on his bike, determined to win an eighth Tour de France.
Armstrong's return from cancer to win the Tour a record seven consecutive times made him a hero to cancer patients worldwide and elevated cycling to an unprecedented level in America.
I have to credit Lance Armstrong for my casual interest in professional cycling. I’ve been following the Tour de France since his sixth Tour win in 2004. I enjoy reading the live race blogs, and the quality TV coverage on Versus – formerly OLN – is informative and first class. Their well-spoken British commentators do a lot to help as well.
Even after Lance retired, I followed the Tours in 2006, 2007, and recently in 2008. I’ve been shocked at the men who were booted for doping, and I have enjoyed watching the grueling mountain stages where men show their valor and what is in their tank that day.
I even got to see the last thirty minutes of the men’s Olympic road race this year in Bejing. I hung on to the edge of my seat, and I drove Heather and Dylan nuts with my commentary and knowledge-sharing. Well, I was mostly talking to hear my own voice.
I cannot decide if I am glad that Lance is coming back. I liked the idea of him riding off into the sunset with his seven consecutive Tour wins. Nevertheless, it would be nice to see cycling get a shot in the arm – no pun intended – after the doping problems that have ripped so many men out of the past three Tours, including American Floyd Landis.