Armstrong considering comeback to rile French
JEAN LAFOND
LANCE Armstrong has confirmed that he is considering coming out of retirement in
response to reports that he used a performance-enhancing blood booster in the
1999 Tour de France.
The Texan retired in July after winning his seventh consecutive Tour de France
and declared "I'm finished." He said he wanted to spend a few days "with a beer,
having a blast" with time dedicated to playing with his three children.
But he has spent the last two weeks angrily denying reports by the French
newspaper L'Equipe that said retrospective tests showed he used the banned
substance EPO (erythropoietin) in 1999.
"While I'm absolutely enjoying my time as a retired athlete with Sheryl [Crow]
and the kids, the recent smear campaign out of France has awoken my competitive
side," said Armstrong last night. "I'm not willing to put a percentage on the
chances but I will no longer rule it out."
Armstrong first hinted that he might ride again in comments made to the Austin
American-Statesman on Monday this week. "I'm thinking it's the best way, to
anger the French," he told the newspaper. "I'm exercising every day."
The news caught even Armstrong's close associates by surprise. Earlier
yesterday, Armstrong's spokesman Mark Higgins had described the cyclist's
comments to the newspaper as a joke. Later, he corrected that impression.
"He's definitely a retired athlete, (but) he's still fit and riding every day,
still thinking about racing," said Higgins after a phone conversation with
Armstrong. "He said it's definitely something he's been thinking about and that
the door is still open."
Armstrong's comments also surprised officials with his Discovery Channel team.
"That to me sounds very Lance-like," said team manager Dan Osipow. "It leaves
things open and the motivation seems pretty clear. He is immensely proud of his
reputation."
Osipow said the team will soon evaluate its roster for the 2006 season.
"He owns part of the team. If there's a certain rider from Texas who wants to
join the team, we'll have space.
"Lance was pretty definitive when he announced his plans for retirement. But
circumstances change. Who knows?"
There were no tests to detect EPO, a drug that increases the level of red blood
cells and endurance, in 1999. However, samples from the 1999 Tour de France were
kept and have been recently retested by a laboratory based outside Paris.
Armstrong has steadfastly denied ever taking performance-enhancing drugs.
The prospect of a possible comeback overshadowed news of Armstrong's engagement
to rock star Sheryl Crow. No wedding date has been set, although it is likely to
be a spring ceremony.
The couple met in October 2003 and began dating a short time later. It will be
the second time down the aisle for Armstrong, who has three children with
ex-wife Kristin.