Lance Armstrong is still the champion
Lance Armstrong; a man who propelled cycling, he is a man who revolutionized the sport, calling him a great cyclist would be an understatement, he is a champion. He is an idol who survived cancer and got on his feet just to risk it all once again for the sport he loves.
Two years ago he was retired but his legacy continued, he was still one of the most power athletes and his public figure was still as powerful as he wanted. Lance dated many famous celebrities, worked with former American president Bill Clinton to spread awareness about the disease which almost killed him and stated under oath before the lawmakers.
Unfortunately on Sunday we saw Lance got mixed up in the background at the Tour de France. He lost the yellow jersey which he wore for 7 consecutive years to a 27 year old Spaniard Alberto Contador, and watched him slip on the coveted yellow jersey. He was ill-fated this year around. He got caught up in a big crash and was weighed down by flat tires due to cobblestones. He stood quietly as the race continued and he fell back to 23rd, 40 minutes behind Alberto.
Last year after his comeback for the first time, he finished third standing right next to Contador but for Lance to watch his teammate and rival step upon the podium this year without him, certainly must have upset him. However the comfort that his fans across the world got was when he was left bloodied after the big crash amongst the cyclists, after Lance’s bike broke down the 38 year old champion did not quit and kept on moving forward.
"I couldn't quit, I could have said a dozen things were wrong, but that's not the commitment that I made. The result wasn't ideal, but it would have been a serious mistake to quit on the team, to quit on the sponsor, to quit on my fans” said Lance Armstrong.
During the race, Armstrong’s former teammate and friend Floyd Landis claimed that Lance took performance enhancing drugs and got blood transfusion before the race which led to a federal investigation by the Food and Drug Administration.
Lance denied the allegations and told the reporters that he Floyd was a liar and someone who just wanted to ruin other people’s lives. Armstrong is someone who has never shied away from the media and attention. He probably is one of the most tested athletes on earth and the drug tests have never been dubious.
Lance is a tremendous athlete who has never let his guard down. Several attempts were made by the French anti-doping authorities; he was tarnished in several books and was questioned by even his teammates. Yet he has won every court case that he has fought over the years, whether he went as a defendant or as a plaintiff.
His relentlessness has benefitted him throughout his life, kept him out of doubt, always a champion in the eyes of his fans and idol amongst cyclists. Experts say he is a crusader who kept his head high and fought through the battles, be it health issues or allegations made by jealous people around him, he remained tireless and remained triumphant.
During his tenure, Armstrong succeeded into earning countless money, was a part of the best teams. He won a triathlon at the tender age of 15 and continued to win various championships. One of the most notable moments of his life was when he fought cancer and hit the gym the very next year, winning the most prestigious race, Tour de France from 1999-2005, seven times consecutively which no other athlete has been able to in the history of the championship.
Lance Armstrong might not have slipped on the yellow jersey or was unable to stand on the podium next to his teammate this year. Regardless Lance has made his mark in history like any other legend. He is the best cyclist ever on earth without any doubt and will stand on the highest platform despite his loss this year.
Armstrong was happy after the race and did not mind being out of the limelight. "Right now, I'm going to the Bahamas, I'm gonna put my feet up and forget about riding the bike for a little bit. Drink some cold beer. Build some sand castles with my kids,” said Lance Armstrong.
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