Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong is old a racing cyclist, born the September 18th 1971 in Plano (Texas, the United States). It is old world champion on road (in 1993) and gained the Tour de France with seven recoveries (absolute records) and in a consecutive way. Its career however was sullied with suspicions of doping.

Biography

Armstrong begins the Cyclisme at 15 years and spends professional in August 1992. Its successive teams are: Motorola (1992 with 1996), Cofidis (1997), US Postal (1998 with 2004), Discovery Channel (since 2005).

Lance Armstrong starts by making Triathlon, which gives him power and endurance. It specializes however in cycling. Lance Armstrong appears at the time of the Tour de France 1993. Carrier of the shirt of champion of the United States, it gains with the sprint the stage of Verdun. A few weeks later with Oslo, in Norway, it becomes at 21 years world champion of cycling on road under dantesques weather conditions and in front of all the favorites. It is often presented, wrongly, like the youngest world champion of its speciality, Karel Kaers having gained its title at 20 years in 1934.

In 1995, Lance takes down its second victory of stage over the Lathe, with Limoges. Crossing the line as a recluse, Lance Armstrong raises a finger towards the sky in homage to its team-member Fabio Casartelli, victim of a deadly fall three days earlier in the descent of the collar of the Portet d' Aspet.

Powerful and explosive runner, Lance Armstrong is affirmed like a frightening runner on the one day races (victory on the Classique of San Sebastian in 1995, on the Walloon Flèche in 1996) but also on the races with one week stages as proves it its 2nd place at the time of the Paris-Nice of 1996.

End 1996, whereas he announces his transfer in the Cofidis team for the following season, Lance Armstrong is 9th world and on its best level since the beginning of its career.

But, in October 1996, one diagnoses a Cancer to him testicles which is worth to him to be isolated competition during more than one year. Its doctor estimated that its chances of survival did not exceed 50%. After a cure and a long rehabilitation, it takes again the bicycle and signs a contract with team U.S. Postal in 1998.

It is quite close to all to however give up after a return to the calamitous competition at the time of Paris-Nice 1998. But its end of season lets appear fair promisess. Its silhouette very refined compared to its first years - it indeed lost all the musculature of the chest formed by the practice of the triathlon, which was not that a load dead during the rises - enables him to pass the high-mountain with more facility as proves it its 4th place with the Tour of Spain 1998. Its new sport director, Johan Bruyneel, also manages to justify it and changes his methods of drive, allowing him to improve his technique of pédalage. Only interested by the Tour de France starting from 1999, it forsakes the traditional ones, except for the Amstel Gold Race (2nd in 1999 and 2001 like 4th in 2002) and of the senior of traditional to knowing Liege-Bastogne-Liege which constituted during several years the second major goal of its season, and the other large turns.

Of 1999 with 2005 it gains 7 consecutive Tours of France.

The April 19th 2005, it announces that it will take its retirement of cycling at the conclusion of the Tour de France 2005. The July 24th 2005, it holds word and leaves professional cycling, on a history seventh and last victory over the Tour de France. Following the revelations of the newspaper the Team concerning a possible doping with EPO at the time of the Tour de France 1999, it will consider a time to return to the competition.

Of 2004 at February 2006, it was promised in marriage to Sheryl Crow.

Lance Armstrong has its own foundation for research against cancer: Lance Armstrong Foundation ( Livestrong ).

To date, he denies very taken of doping product.

The Tour de France: 7 consecutive victories

2000

With the prolog, Armstrong finishes second, two seconds behind Millar but 12" already in front of Jan Ullrich. Then Texan strikes very extremely in the first stage of mountain with Lourdes Hautacam where it deposits climbing Italian Marco Pantani on its own ground and Switzerland Zülle, both completely unable to follow the rate which it imposes. To 6 km of the arrival, Heras, Escartin, Beloki and some other runners is caught up with and exceeded. To 3 km of the goal, it is with the turn of Jimenez to be begun again. Finally, only Otxoa, escaped morning finishes in front of the American. Armstrong endorses the yellow jersey. For its adversaries, the assessment is heavy: Beloki arrives 3 ' 35" and Ullrich 4 ' 01" after the " Boss". Many thinks that the Turn is already played. A few days later, after having offered the victory of stage in Pantani to the top of Ventoux (stage 12), Armstrong gains to it against-the-watch close to Mulhouse 25" in front of its Ullrich rival. He is finally crowned in Paris for the second time. He has 6 ' 02" in advance on Jan Ullrich which becomes its most frequent dolphin. The American carried in all the yellow jersey 12 days in the Turn 2000.

2001

At the time of the 8th stage, an escape river of 14 runners develops in the the Jura and puts in advanced position of the dangerous runners like Andreï Kivilev. The group and all the favorites are relegated to 35 minutes.

Armstrong catches up with part of her delay in the spectacular rise of Alpe d' Huez where it releases its principal rival Jan Ullrich to 13 km of the top. It exceeds finally Laurent Roux which was in pole position and which had made a solitary escape to 6 km of the top.

In the the Pyrenees, Armstrong once again gains another stage with Saint-Lary-Soulan in front of Ullrich (to 1 ' 00") and Beloki (to 1 ' 46"). To crown the whole, Texan is still victorious with the against-the-watch of Montlucon - Saint-Amand-Montrond. In Paris, it has 6 ' 44" in advance on its Ullrich dolphin. The American carries in all the yellow jersey 8 days in the Turn 2001. Again victorious, Armstrong thus joined with the prize list the Belgian Philippe Thys, the French Louison Bobet and the American Greg LeMond, triple winners of the Grande Boucle.

2002

After having gained the prolog, Lance Armstrong, as with its practice takes the things in hand during the first stage of mountain, with Mongie: its coéquiper Heras prints a rate/rhythm infernal and only Beloki manages to follow the two men. Jalabert, left into escaped is exceeded to 3,5 km of the goal. Finally, in the last hectometers, whereas one could have thought that it was going to offer the victory to its lieutenant Heras, Armstrong attacks and will seek her second victory in this Turn. The following day, it still gains with the Plate of Beille 1 ' 04" in front of Heras and Beloki.
A few days later, it carries out a fast ultra rise of the Ventoux but the stage in spite of is very gained by Richard Virenque, escaped good before the beginning of the coll.
Armstrong completes her victory by crushing last the against-the-watch of Mâcon. Finally, it has in Paris an advance of 7 ' 17" on Beloki, which finishes second and it will have carried in all the yellow jersey 11 days in the Tour 2002.

2003

The turn 2003 was by far the most difficult turn for Armstrong. At the time of the fourth stage, its team (US Postal) gains to it against-the-watch by teams.

Then, in the Alps, for the first Lance Armstrong time is attacked on several occasions. Moreover, one singular episode occurs in the descent of the collar of Rochette on the road of Gap: Beloki falls in front of the American. This one, at the price of a reflex, is engulfed in the close field, which it spectacularly crosses before joining the road a lower lace, free for a great fright. A few days later, in the furnace, victim of dehydration, it is largely beaten by Jan Ullrich in against the watch of Gaillac-Cape Découverte. It preserves nevertheless the yellow jersey for 34 seconds. With the foot of the Pyrenees, Ullrich has all its chances because the variations are tiny (15" between Armstrong and him).

At the time of the stage of Luz-Ardiden, with nearly 10,3 km to the arrival, Armstrong, victim of a fixing with a spectator, falls, involving with him Iban Mayo. Ullrich, chivalrous, slows down to await the American who sets out again. Then, to 9 km of the goal, after being itself made some frights while exposing, Armstrong passes to the attack. Finally, Texan gains the stage 40" in front of Jan Ullrich and Mayo.

Armstrong removes her last chances with Jan Ullrich in last the against-the-watch between Pornic and Nantes. In Paris, the difference between Jan Ullrich and Armstrong are only of 1 ' 01" what remains the tightest variation of the septennate of Armstrong between him and the second. The American carries in all the yellow jersey 13 days in the Turn 2003. With this 5th title, Armstrong joined the recordmen Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain, also five times winners of the Grande Boucle.

2004

Armstrong finishes second of the prolog behind Cancellara (for only two seconds), it returns already Ullrich to 15 seconds! Four days later, its team (US Postal) gains to it against-the-watch by team what makes it possible Texan to thread the yellow jersey. During the rise of Mongie (12th stage), Armstrong and Basso get rid of the other competitors. Finally, Armstrong offers this stage to the Italian. The following day, the same scenario reproduces, but this time, the American does not make any more a gift with Basso and it gains the stage. Hard blow for Ullrich which finishes to 2 ' 42" , for Mayo, for Hamilton (which give up finally) and for the other favorites. Three days later, the American removes his second victory of individual stage of this turn in spite of a beautiful offensive of Ullrich. The following day (stage 16), Armstrong flies over to it against-the-watch of Alpe d' Huez. It dominates Ullrich literally there (to 1 ' 01"), Klöden (to 1 ' 41") and double even Basso (to 2 ' 23") however party two minutes before him. At the time of stage 17, it once again gains the victory with the Grand Bornand where it catches up with on the line Andreas Klöden party with one kilometer of the goal. To complete its triumph, the " Boss" remove without difficulty last the against-the-watch with Besancon 1 ' 01" in front of Ullrich. With Paris, it has 6 ' 19" in advance on Klöden, its dolphin and it carried the yellow jersey during 7 days and gained 5 victories as it against-the-watch by team. This Turn 2004 will remain for Armstrong one of most beautiful of its career. The American becomes the recordman of victories to the turn of France with 6 consecutive successes.

2005

At the time of the prolog, Armstrong relegates her main competitors to more than 50 seconds but it is beaten by its ex-fellow-member with US Postal, the young person David Zabriskie of team CSC two seconds only. Jan Ullrich, its principal rival is exceeded by the American left one minute after him. Like it of with the practice, Armstrong thus strikes very extremely as of the first stage. Thus it starts its 11th participation in the 92e Tour de France. Its team (Discovery Channel TEAM) gains to then it against-the-watch by teams with a two seconds advance over the CSC of Ivan Basso (Armstrong thus seizes the yellow jersey). With Courchevel, at the time of the tenth stage, the “Boss” strikes a great blow again. He prints a train of hell in the rise final and only some rare runners (Valverde, Rasmussen, Mancebo) after a fashion manage to accompany it until the top. Its main adversaries (Basso, Ullrich, Vinokourov) do not manage to follow the rate/rhythm imposed by Texan and are relegated to several minutes. In the following stages, Lance Armstrong has beautiful attacked being, isolated, it always remains most extremely and nobody manages to destabilize it. It finishes once again second with Ax-3 fields where only Georg Totschnig, escaped morning manages to finish in front of him. It still takes time with its rivals. Finally, it gains to it against-the-watch individual of Saint-Etienne 23 seconds in front of its rival Jan Ullrich. The difference between Basso and Armstrong with Paris is of 4 ' 40". The American carries in all the yellow jersey 17 days in the Tour de France 2005. This Tour de France, fastest of the history, was buckled by Lance Armstrong at the mean velocity of 41,654 km/h.

Only winner of seven consecutive editions of the Tour de France, it was selected like “athlete of the year 2002” by the prestigious American magazine Sports Illustrated . After having gained the hand high the Turn 2005, Armstrong leaves to the retirement at the top its Article It is only great champions (Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil, Miguel Indurain) to leave the competition on such a victory. Since 1999, it did not know the defeat in this race.

Controversies

Lance Armstrong was controlled positive with the Corticoïde S on the Tour de France 1999, but the presentation a posteriori of a doctor's certificate enables him to escape the sanctions. According to its entourage, it was about a dermatological pomade authorized on medical regulation. Nevertheless, the only fact of presenting this certificate afterwards and not before control should have been enough, in strict application of the payment (Payment UCI Titer XIV Chapter 4 Article 43), to make it sanction. Previously, it will have contributed to draw aside Christophe Bassons group, reproaching him its standpoint antidopage: “If he thinks that cycling functions like that, he is mistaken and it is better than he returns at his place”. ( the Team 7/17/1999).

At the time of the Tour de France 2000, France 2 diffuses a report in which one sees of the personnel the US Postal one throwing in a dustbin of the syringes and boxes of drugs (Actovegin), which does not constitute nevertheless a proof of doping in oneself, contents which cannot be comparable with the mode of assimilation and Actovegin not being reproduced at the time on the list of the products prohibited by the UCI. The following year, Armstrong specifies to consult since 1995 the doctor Michele Ferrari, condemned since for sporting fraud and abusive exercise of the occupation of pharmacist, but without this judgment being in connection with the relation of the two men. The judgment relating to Ferrari rests mainly on the assertions of the racing cyclist Filippo Simeoni, assertions which were, as it is written by the judge in awaited judgment, “consolidated by a series of elements collected (...) during the lawsuit”. Michele Ferrari however obtained a withdrawal of case in call. Armstrong had initially officially broken any relation with the Italian doctor who was however among his guests at the time of the festival celebrating his sixth victory in the Tour de France in July 2004…

In June 2004, the book Confidential L.A. - the secrecies of Lance Armstrong writes by two journalists, David Walsh and Pierre Ballester, reports revelations of its former masseuse and the doubts of former fellow-members or runners of which Greg LeMond. Convinced of the doping of Armstrong, the insurer texan SCA Promotions then refuses to pour to him the promised premium of 5 million dollars for his sixth victory. The lawsuit was to be held during the winter 2005-2006. An preliminary investigation on the entourage of Armstrong for suspicion of doping was open in January 2005 by the public prosecutor of Annecy, investigation which was classified thereafter, the facts being prescribed.

In Le Monde of the July 18th 2005, Mike Anderson, her personal assistant of 2002 with 2004 declares: “I do not have any doubt about the fact that Armstrong used products prohibited to gain the Tour de France (…) By using prohibited products, it misleads cycling and the public. ” Mike Anderson would have discovered a box of Stéroïde S in the bathroom of Lance Armstrong, her Spanish residence, and, for this reason, would have been laid off without care. Refusing to sign hush agreement (clause of confidentiality on all that could concern Armstrong), it following that will be attacked in justice by Armstrong and will counter-attack while carrying felt sorry for against this last for abusive layoff. The business as a whole will be regulated finally by amicable agreement, after withdrawal of the complaint of Armstrong and notice of matter not-entry concerning the complaint of Anderson for abusive layoff.

Lance Armstrong however always pled its innocence, as at the time of this declaration at the end of its last Tour de France:

“I would like to address to me to all those which do not believe in the bicycle. I would like to say to cynical and to the skeptics who I am sorry for them. I am sorry that you do not believe in the miracles, I am sorry that you do not believe in cycling. The bicycle is the most beautiful sport and most difficult of the world. And the Tour de France is most beautiful and the most difficult race of the world. Live the Turn, for always! ”

It also always minimized the importance of doping in cycling. In connection with Christophe Bassons which denounced the extent of doping, he declares: “Its charges are good for cycling, its team, me nor nobody. If he thinks that cycling functions like that, he is mistaken and it is better than it remains at his place. ” ( the Team of the July 17th 1999, brought back in Sport & Life n°56 of seven-Oct. 1999).

Despite everything, a bounce occurs the August 23rd 2005, when the sporting magazine French the Team publishes an investigation in which he announces that six samples of urine of Lance Armstrong dating from the Tour de France cyclist 1999 would contain EPO. To establish the bond between the traces of EPO and Armstrong, the newspaper compared the numbers of the urinary samples analyzed by the National laboratory of tracking of doping of Châtenay-Malabry with those registered on the official reports of control of the runner which were provided to him by the UCI. In spite of these facts that many observers regard as evidence, Lance Armstrong however continued to deny ever to have consumed prohibited products, refusing to admit the validity of the results of the laboratory, being based sometimes on the absence of possible counter-evaluation (only the samples B remaining), sometimes on the possible handling of the samples or the results in a country where it is estimated regarded as the public enemy number one, sometimes finally on uncertainty as for the reliability of the test practiced by the laboratory of Châtenay-Malabry. The tests on the samples of 1999 were practiced at ends of research what does not require the strict protocol of the procedure anti-doping normal. According to the Vrijman report/ratio, a possibility of contamination of the samples cannot be isolated. Others still estimate that the laboratory of Châtenay-Malabry, at the origin of this test of detection of EPO, is badly placed to estimate reliability of it. Contrary to the test developped at the point since by an Australian team, this screening test is subjected to a human appreciation and thus depends much on the expertise of the controller. For example, the Italian Fabrizio Guidi who had been controlled positive with EPO in August 2005 was bleached by the counter-evaluation, like had been it, in another sport, the miler Bernard Lagat in 2003, or, more recently Marion Jones.

It should however be noted that the laboratory of Châtenay-Malabry is a laboratory recognized officially by UCI as by all the other sporting institutions, and that its test of detection of EPO is usually used. In addition, according to the majority of the specialists, so of the samples can be deteriorated with long, never they do not transform the negative one into positive.

Following the Armstrong business, a commission of athletes of CIO (International Olympic committee) asked for the suspension of the laboratory, with for reason the non-observance of the medical secret. The world Agency anti-doping however did not take action pursuant, estimating that the laboratory had not transgressed any ethical principle. The AMA (world Agency antidopage) and UCI (international Union cyclist) led both an investigation to this subject. But Armstrong is with the shelter legally for a question of form. To be condemned or displaced on the Tour de France 1999 one would need that a counter-evaluation is possible on each sample, the 5 positive taking away according to 1st not being able to act as counter-evaluation.

The May 31st 2006, a ratio of 132 pages of the commission of independent survey, ordered by the UCI, studies the allegations advanced by the Team in August 2005. The sporting daily newspaper had then established that samples of the victorious septuple of the Grande Boucle tested in the national laboratory of tracking of the doping of Châtenay-Malabry, had appeared positive with the EPO. The commission, which worked only on the form, blames the authorities antidopage. On the other hand, except some pages on possible contamination of the sample, it left side the bottom of the file, namely: Was Lance Armstrong or not doped in 1999?

The September 12th 2006, the daily newspaper New Yorkean NewYork Times published the revelations of Frankie Andreu and, under cover of anonymity, of another fellow-member of Lance Armstrong within the formation US Postal. Those state to have taken EPO before the Tour de France 1999. The two runners however specified not to have " never considering Armstrong doper". Armstrong retorted while saying: “My victories cyclists are without spot. I did not take any doping product, I asked nobody to take some and I did not encourage anyone of other to take some. I gained properly. ”

In October 2006, the Official one, published by Pierre Ballester and David Walsh advance that the explanations given to explain the metamorphosis of American after his cancer do not hold. For example, after its cancer, it, as well as possible, did not lose that one or two kilos.

Prize list

  • Bicycle of Gold: 1999,2000,2001,2003,2004 (2nd: 2002; 3rd: 1998; 2nd: 2005)

  • Mendrisio d' Or: 1999
  • Tour de France: 1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005
  • 25 victories of stages over the Tour de France including 2 prologs and 3 against-the-watch by team
  • 83 days of race with the yellow jersey over the Tour de France
  • Championship of the world over road: 1993 (4th: 1998)
  • Championship of the United States on road: 1990 (amat.), 1993
  • Walloon Arrow: 1996
  • Classica San Sebastian : 1995 (2nd: 1994)
  • Grand Prix of the Nations: 2000 (and better average of the test)
  • Dauphiné Libéré: 2002,2003 (3rd: 2000; 4th: 2004,2005) (4 stages)
  • Midi Libre: 2002
  • Turn of Switzerland: 2001
  • Turn Of the Bridge: 1995,1996 (2nd: 1993,1994) (10 stages)
  • Turn of Luxembourg: 1998
  • Turn of the Rhineland-Palatinat: 1998
  • Turn of Georgia: 2004
  • Week Bergamask: 1992 (amat.)
  • Grand Prix Eddy Merckx: 2000 (with Ekimov) (2nd: 1996)
  • Grand Prix of Atlanta: 1992
  • Thrift Drug Classic : 1992 (amat.), 1993,1994 (2nd: 1995)
  • West-Virginia Mountain Classic: 1993
  • West-Virginia Kmart Classic : 1995
  • Classic Cascade: 1998
  • Laigueglia Trophy: 1993
  • GP Sanson (Marostica): 1992

  • 2nd of classification UCI: 2002

  • 2nd of Paris Nice: 1996
  • 2nd of Liege-Bastogne-Liege: 1994,1996
  • 2nd of the Amstel Gold Race: 1999,2001 (4th: 2002)
  • 2nd of the Grand Prix of Zurich: 1992 (3rd: 2002, 4th: 1996)
  • 2nd of the Traditional of the Alps: 2001 (3rd: 2000)
  • 2nd of Paris-Camembert cheese: 2000
  • 2nd of International Critérium: 2002 (3rd: 2004)
  • 2nd of the Turn of Holland: 1996 (4th: 1998)
  • 2nd of First Invitational Union - Wachovia Invi: 1998

  • Bronze medal of the against-the-watch to the Olympic Games: 2000

  • 3rd of the Turn of Sweden: 1993
  • 4th of the Turn of Spain: 1998
  • 4th of the championship of the world of the against-the-watch: 1998

  • Champion of the United States of triathlon Juniors: 1990

Results on the Tour de France

  • 1993 : abandonment 12th stage and victorious of 1 stage.
  • 1994 : abandonment 15th stage.
  • 1995 : 36e of the general classification and victorious of a stage.
  • 1996 : abandonment 6th stage.
  • 1999 : winner of general classification and 4 stages. 15 days in yellow jersey.
  • 2000 : winner of general classification and 1 stage. 12 days in yellow jersey.
  • 2001 : winner of general classification and 4 stages. 8 days in yellow jersey.
  • 2002 : winner of general classification and 4 stages. 11 days in yellow jersey.
  • 2003 : winner of general classification and 1 stage. 13 days in yellow jersey.
  • 2004 : winner of general classification and 5 stages. 7 days in yellow jersey.
  • 2005 : winner of general classification and 1 stage. 17 days in yellow jersey.

Anecdote

It is the seventeenth of the ten-new cyclists of the turn of France having gained several stages over one 10 years period or more. In term of longevity, it is 5th because it gained the stage between Chalons-sur-Marne and Verdun in 1993 and it gained to it against-the-watch Saint-Etienne - Saint-Etienne. Only Jean Alavoine (14 years), Rene Vietto, Gino Bartali and Louis Mottiat (13 years) did better. Raymond Poulidor division this 5th place with him. Henri Pelissier, Philippe Thys, Andre Leducq, Antonin Magne, Andre Darrigade, Jean Stablinski, Felice Gimondi, Gerben Karstens, Ferdinand Bracke, Joaquim Agostinho and Lucien Van Impe also succeeded in gaining their stages over one period of 10 or 11 years. Richard Virenque also made a success of this performance even if it gained his first stage after him and gained his last before him (1994-2004). Since, only Cédric Vasseur made a success of such a performance.

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