Top Cyclists to look out for in 2011 Tour de France - Part 2
Article continued from Top Cyclists to look out for in 2011 Tour de France - Part 1
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong was born on September 18, 1971. Armstrong is best known for winning the Tour de France for a record seven times and that too consecutively. The former American professional cyclist started his career as a swimmer and grabbed the fourth
spot in 500 m freestyle at the City of Plano Swim Club.
He was the number one triathlete in 1987-1988, in the 19 and under age group. As an amateur, his total points for 187 were higher than top five ranked professionals that year. Armstrong became a professional triathlete at the age of 16 and was soon a national
sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990.
At the age of 20, Armstrong won the US Amateur Championship in 1991 and he soon realised that bicycle racing was the best of his talents. Motorola signed him for his first professional contract after his impressive performance as he finished 14th in the
1992 Summer Olympics.
His first race, with Motorola, was the Trophee Laigueglia in Italy, which he won by beating the tournament's favourite, Moreno Argentin. Armstrong won 10 one-day events and stage races in 1993 and astonished the world by winning the UCI Road World Championship
at the age of 21.
At the age of 25, Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had a 40 percent chance of survival after the surgery. Dr. Scott A. Shapiro, MD, Professor of Neurosurgery at Indiana University had to convince Armstrong that he is the right surgeon for
him as Armstrong wrote in his first book:
Armstrong: “You’ll have to convince me you know what you’re doing”
Shapiro: “Look, I’ve done a large number of these; I’ve never had anyone die and I’ve never made anyone worse”
Armstrong: “Yeah, but why should you be the person who operates my head?”
Shapiro: “Because as good as you are at cycling” after a pause “I’m a lot better at brain surgery”
His cancer was cured in 1998 and he started serious training the same year.
He received 'Athlete of the Year' award four times by the Associated Press in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and was the first cyclist to achieve it. Armstrong was the best Male Athlete for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 which was awarded by ESPY Awards and his performances
also earned him a place in the 100 Most Influential People by Times Magazine.
Ivan Basso
Ivan Basso is an Italian professional cyclist born on November 26, 1977. Basso is considered as one of the best stage race bikers and a very strong mountain rider. He is nick-named as 'Ivan the Terrible'.
Basso has won Giro‘d Italia twice, in 2006 and 2010 and was suspended in 2007 as he confessed that he was intending to use a banned-performance-enhancing drug. Basso returned to the international scene on October 24, 2008 and appeared in Japan Cup two days
later. He ended up in the third place behind Damiano Cunego and Giovanni Visconti.
The 33-year-old grew up next door to Claudio Chiappucci, who was a former three-time winner of Tour de France. Chiappucci also had to face suspension for two years as he was proven guilty of doping quite a few times.
Basso looked impressive in 2004 Tour de France as he won the 12th stage ahead of Lance Armstrong. It was his first victory since 2001.
Ivan Basso signed a two-year contract with Liquigas in 2008 and claimed an overall victory in 2009 Giro del Trentino. Basso won the Giro d’ Italia in 2010, but missed out this year and will not be able to defend his title as he is riding in Tour de France.
Basso is currently at the eleventh place of the Tour de France.
Article continued from Top Cyclists to look out for in 2011 Tour de France - Part 3
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