Sports Blog
Lance Armstrong comeback confirmed
Posted by Triple M Thursday 25 September, 2008 08:12 AM
Cycling legend Lance Armstrong has confirmed - via a press conference in New York City - that his competitve comeback to the sport of cycling will begin in Australia at the Tour Down Under in South Australia.
"I have decided to race my bicycle again," he said at the press conference where he was launching the 'Live Strong Global Awareness Campaign' in New York.
"With this campaign we feel that by racing the bicycle all over the world, beginning in Australia, ending in France at the global summit, it is the best way to promote this initiative, it's the best way to get the word out."
South Australian Premier Mike Rann let the cat out of the bag before Armstrong had confirmed it, when he announced that Armstrong would be coming to S.A. to compete in the Tour Down Under half a day before Armstrong's press conference in New York.
Premier Rann said he believed that Armstrong's profile had the potential to double the 15,000 people who visited SA for the event, and quadruple the international media coverage. While he refused to confirm whether or not an appearance fee would be paid to the cycling legend, Premier Rann said he believed that the coup of getting Armstrong at Tour Down Under would boost the S.A. economy.
"While there will be additional expenses in terms of security and arrangements for a much larger crowd," he said, "we generated $17 million worth of economic activity from last year's Tour and we expect to at least double that."
The South Australian Government is working on opportunities for Armstrong to raise awareness about cancer - Armstrong is a testicular cancer survivor - but thus far his attendance at a formal function for the Tour Down Under is the only event for which he is confirmed at present.
In the photo above (courtesy Getty Images), you can see Lance celebrating winning a record seventh Tour De France. Do you think that at 37 years of age and having been out of the sport for three years that he's a certainty to take out the Tour Down Under and go on to win an eighth Tour De France in 2009?
Comments
that's unreal. he's such a legend.
Posted by andy Thursday 25 September, 2008 08:44 AM
I think it's great he's FINALLY coming here, and it's amazing to hear the media talk about someone other than Stuey O'Grady!! BUT please remember we have had some awesome cyclists here before too - Contador, Evans, Rogers, Mcewen, Horshovd etc etc. I really hope that he doesn't win Le Tour de France this year as I think he & Astana team have been unfair on the sensational young Contador - Perhaps Lancey is scared that someone could do better than him. In saying that, I am glad that our sensational Tour Down Under will get better coverage for his presence!!!
Posted by Ange Thursday 25 September, 2008 01:04 PM
Lance should have stayed in retirement! He finished on a high .. he's coming back because he has no other life than cycling. The only good thing to come of this is publicity for the Tour Down Under!!!
Posted by Rita Thursday 25 September, 2008 04:43 PM
Its great to see Lance still has the balls...to come downunder and race in a world class event.
Posted by Kenny Wednesday 8 October, 2008 04:28 PM