He was considered one of the best cyclists in history, having won the Tour de France seven times . He became a legend for having overcome cancer and continuing to compete. He created the Lance Armstrong Foundation to fight cancer and wrote several books.
In August 2012, the American Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles . USADA concluded that Armstrong used stimulants. He was also suspended as a cyclist for life
Biographical Synthesis
He was born in Austin, Texas, on September 18, 1971. His mother, Linda Mooneyham, was the main support for him to pursue the sport. He first practiced swimming , and at thirteen he discovered triathlon , being a professional in this discipline at 16. But soon after he switched to cycling . In his professional career he combined the careers of his country with those of Europe .
In January 1997 , just a month after discovering testicular cancer with metastases to the brain, Lance met Kristin Richard, to whom he was married for five years. With her he had three children, Luke and twins Grace and Isabelle. Divorced in September 2003 . Announced in December of 2008 , that his girlfriend, Anna Hansen, was pregnant. The boy, Maxwell Edward ‘Max’ Armstrong, was born on June 4 , 2009 in Aspen , Colorado .
After overcoming his illness, which meant a great change in his life, he started the Lance Armstrong Foundation to fight cancer. He also wrote several books, in which he told his own story. With the first, “It’s not about the bike”, he sold millions of copies, and this success was repeated with his biography “My return to life.”
In 2000 he was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports. A man who overcame the worst, with strength, will and faith in himself.
Sports race
In 1992 he made his professional debut with the Motorola at the Clásica de San Sebastián . A year later, in Verdun , he conquered his first stage of the Tour de France ; and then he won the World Championship in Oslo. In 1995 he returned to win a stage in France and achieved his first victory in a long test at the Tour Du Pont . In 1996 he won the Walloon Arrow .
In 1997 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer with lung and brain metastases. His will to overcome the disease was such that he even cycled 80 kilometers in the middle of chemotherapy .
The French team Cofidis broke his contract, however later a team sponsored by the US Postal Service hired him, although for much less than what he used to charge, and thus in 1998 he returned to Paris – Nice , finishing fourth in the Vuelta and in the world championship, he won the Tour of Luxembourg and more races in his country.
This competition was not entirely hopeful, and Lance came to think of a possible resignation. However, after twists and turns, he set out to win one of the most important races in the world, the Tour de France , which he did in 1999 . To this triumph were added another six consecutive victories. This was his best year because he won four stages and the overall Tour.
In this way he surpassed the record that Miguel Induráin had (with five tour de France won). In August 2005 , after having obtained his seventh Tour and having retired from competitive cycling, rumors of doping arose in France ; and according to the French sports newspaper L’Equipe , the new analyzes carried out on samples taken years ago from the American cyclist were positive.
In August 2012, the American Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles . USADA concluded that Armstrong used stimulants. He was also suspended as a cyclist for life.
Awards
- 3rd on the Golden Bike ( 1998 )
- Mendrisio de Oro ( 1999 )
- Golden Bicycle (1999, 2000 , 2001 , 2003 , 2004 )
- Prince of Asturias Award for Sports (2000)
- 2nd on the Golden Bike (2002 and 2005 )
- Brand Legend (2004)