Lance Armstrong recognized as top bicyclist, Texas hero
by Paul D. Matson, sports editor

   Lance Armstrong is more than a world hero; he is a Texas hero, who remembers where he came from.

   After winning the Tour de France for the third consecutive year, Armstrong was photographed waving a full size Texas state flag while riding his bike around the Champs Elysees.

   Winning the Tour three consecutive times has been accomplished by only five other riders.

   Texans, and Americans in general, have never taken much notice of what was considered a wimpy European sport until a couple of years ago.

   Armstrong, a Plano native, currently resides in Austin, when not spending time living and training in Europe.

   Growing up in Plano, Armstrong described himself as an egotistic, tri-athlete hotshot with little self-control.

   In his younger days, Armstrong never seemed able to pace himself. At times, he exploded from the pack (or peloton), soon to find he had over-extended his strength. Long before the finish of the race, he would begin to fade to the rear of the peloton.

   Armstrong admits that maturity came slowly in his life.

   Moving up the ranks of professional European bike racing, Armstrong became a major player, but proved he still had much to learn about becoming a team player.

   Bicycle racing is a team sport, and each member has individual strengths.

   Some team members are best at climbing hills while others’ strengths might be sprinting to the front of the pack, and others might take a defensive posture, protecting the leader from the advances of rival competitors.

   That independence changed, however, and Armstrong became a team player and leader.

   Most importantly, however, he is a cancer survivor and a father of one son.

   Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996. He was only 25 at the time.

   Soon after having a testicle removed, Armstrong learned the cancer had spread to his lungs and two lesions had formed on his brain.

   After successful brain surgery, Armstrong began an experimental round of chemotherapy.

   The chemo almost killed him, and Armstrong became a ghost of his former self.

   Doctors gave Armstrong a 50 percent chance of recovery, but the chances were closer to 25 percent.

   His French sponsor, Cofidis, declared there was no possibility of Armstrong’s ever riding a bike again, much less competing professionally, and dropped his contract.

   During rigorous rehabilitation, Armstrong’s body realigned itself.    Even with a new lean look, Armstrong’s chances of returning to racing were still remote.

   His chance became reality in 1999, when the U. S. Postal Team took a risk and sponsored him. That team, with Armstrong, became the first U.S. team to win the Tour de France.

   After discovering the physical and emotional problems that remained after cancer treatment, Armstrong formed the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1996.

   The life-after-cancer program is intended to help cancer survivors and their families cope.

   According to its policy statements, the Foundation’s mission is “to change and improve the presence of cancer on this planet; continue to define, refine and improve cancer survivor services; and facilitate the delivery of those services—and a large dose of hope—to the patients, their families and other loved ones touched by the disease.”

   Armstrong kicked off the Ride for the Roses, a bicycling fund-raiser for the Foundation, July 2000 in Austin drawing mainly friends in its first year.

   Over the years the Ride has progressed, and attendance has grown to over 8,000.

   Armstrong, his body possibly stronger than before, has been plagued with allegations of illegal drug use.

   In France, the press stated that after what Armstrong’s body had gone through during chemo, he had to be using stamina-enhancing drugs.

   The French press has been unrelenting in their accusations. And the more races Armstrong wins, the more reports of drug use are seen.

   Armstrong has tested negative for every post-race drug screening.

   “Anyone who has gone through cancer treatments would never consider defiling their body with performance enhancing drugs,” he has continually said.

   Armstrong is the first cancer survivor to win the Tour de France.

   “I hope it sends out a fantastic message to all survivors: We can return to what we were before,” he said.