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| fullname = Lance Edward Armstrong | fullname = Lance Edward Armstrong
| nickname = The Boss, Juan Pelota, The Texan,<ref>Gayle King Radio Show, Fed Ex http://www.oprah.com/media/20080601_oaf_20080619_oaf_gk</ref><br /> Mellow Johnny <small>(from ],<br />French for ])</small><ref>Lance Armstrong, Sally Jenkins: ''Every Second Counts'', Chapter 1, (ISBN 0-385-50871-9), Broadway Books 2003.</ref> | nickname = The Boss, Juan Pelota, The Texan,<ref>Gayle King Radio Show, Fed Ex http://www.oprah.com/media/20080601_oaf_20080619_oaf_gk</ref><br /> Mellow Johnny <small>(from ],<br />French for ])</small><ref>Lance Armstrong, Sally Jenkins: ''Every Second Counts'', Chapter 1, (ISBN 0-385-50871-9), Broadway Books 2003.</ref>
| dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1971|9|18}} | dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1232|1|12}}
|Dateofdeath = |Dateofdeath =
| height = {{height|m=1.77}}<ref name="tdf">TDF (2009). Astana - Lance Armstrong. Retrieved on 2009-07-04 from http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/RIDERS/us/coureurs/22.html.</ref> | height = {{height|m=1.77}}<ref name="tdf">TDF (2009). Astana - Lance Armstrong. Retrieved on 2009-07-04 from http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/RIDERS/us/coureurs/22.html.</ref>
| weight = <small>1993:</small> {{convert|79|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}<br /><small>1999:</small> {{convert|74|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}<br /><small>2009:</small> {{convert|75|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="tdf" /> | weight = <small>1993:</small> {{convert|79|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}<br /><small>199
| country = United States
| currentteam = {{ct|RadioShack}}
| discipline = Road
| role = Rider
| ridertype = All-Rounder
| amateuryears = 1990&ndash;1991<br />1991
| amateurteams = {{ct|DSC|1990}}<br />US National Team
| proyears = 1992&ndash;1996<br />1997<br />1998&ndash;2004<br />2005<br />2009<br />2010&ndash;
| proteams = ]<br />{{ct|COF|1997}}<br />{{ct|DSC|1998}}<br />{{ct|DSC|2005}}<br />{{ct|AST|2009}}<br />{{ct|RSH|2010}}
| majorwins = ''']''' <br />
: ] General Classification
: (], ], ], ], ], ], ])
: 22 Individual Stages
] ] (1993)<br />] ] (1993)<br />] (1995)<br />] (1996)<br />] (2001)<br />] (2002, 2003)
| updated = July 26, 2008
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}
{{MedalSport | Men's ]}}
{{MedalCompetition|]}}
{{MedalGold | ] | ]}}
{{MedalCompetition|]}}
{{MedalBronze | ] | ]}}
}}
'''Lance Edward Armstrong''' (born '''Lance Edward Gunderson''' on September 18, 1971) is an American professional ] who is best known for winning the ] a record seven consecutive times, after having survived ]. He is also the founder and chairman of the ] for cancer research and support. He currently rides for ] team {{ct|RadioShack}}.

In 1996 he was diagnosed with ], a ] that ] to his brain and lungs. His ] included brain and testicular surgery and extensive ], and his ] was originally poor. He went on to win the Tour de France each year from ] to ] and is the only person to win seven times, having broken the previous record of five wins, shared by ], ], ] and ].

In 1999, he was named the ] ] Athlete of the Year. In 2000 he won the ] in Sports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fundacionprincipedeasturias.org/ing/04/premiados/trayectorias/trayectoria657.html|title=Lance Armstrong|accessdate=2008-09-15}}</ref> In 2002, '']'' magazine named him ]. He was also named ] for the years 2002–2005. He received ]'s ] for Best Male Athlete in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, and won the ] Award in 2003. Armstrong retired from racing on July 24, 2005, at the end of the ], but returned to competitive cycling in January 2009, and finished third in the ].

== Career ==
=== Early career ===
Armstrong was born on September 18, 1971, in ], a northern suburb of ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Doeden |first=Matt |year=2006 |title=Lance Armstrong |publisher=Twenty-First Century Books |isbn=0822559595 |pages=7–8 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=9GcPDCo49V8C&pg=PA7 |accessdate=2009-09-28}}</ref>

At the age of 12, he began his sporting career as a ] at the City of Plano Swim Club and finished fourth in Texas state 1,500-meter freestyle. He stopped swimming after seeing a poster for a junior ] which he entered and won easily.

In the 1987–1988 Tri-Fed/Texas ("Tri-Fed" was the former name of ]), Armstrong was the number one ranked triathlete in the 19-and-under group; second place was ], who became a US Postal Service cycling teammate and the 2002 ]. Armstrong's points total for 1987 as an amateur was better than the five professionals ranked that year. At 16, Armstrong became a professional triathlete and became national sprint-course triathlon champion in 1989 and 1990 at 18 and 19, respectively.

It became clear that his greatest talent was for bicycle racing after he won the U.S. amateur championship in 1991. Representing the U.S., he finished 14th in the ]. This performance earned him his first professional contract with Motorola with whom he won his first race, the Trophee Laigueglia in Italy, beating the favourite ]. Also in 1992, Armstrong competed in the ] race.

In 1993, Armstrong won 10 one-day events and stage races. He became one of the youngest riders to win the ], and took his first stage win at the ] from ] to ]. He was in 97th place overall when he abandoned the race in the Alps after the 12th stage.

He also collected the ] Triple Crown of Cycling: the Thrift Drug Classic in ], the K-Mart West Virginia Classic, and the ] ] in ]. Thrift Drug said it would award $1 million to a rider winning all three races, a feat previously unachieved. At the USPRO championship, Armstrong sat up on his bicycle on the final lap, took out a comb, combed his hair and smiled for the cameras.

In 1994, he again won the Thrift Drug Classic and came second in the Tour Du Pont in the United States. His successes in Europe were second placings in the ] and ].

He won the Clásica San Sebastián in 1995, and this time won the Tour Du Pont and took a handful of stage victories in Europe including the stage to ] in the Tour De France. He dedicated the win to teammate ] who died in a crash on the descent of the ] on the 15th stage, two days before.

Armstrong's successes were much the same in 1996. He became the first American to win the ] and again won the Tour Dupont. However, his performances began to suffer and he was only able to compete for five days in the Tour De France. At ] he was only able to finish 6th in the ] and 12th in the road race in the ].

=== Cancer ===
On October 2, 1996, at age 25, Armstrong was diagnosed with stage three ]. The cancer had ] to his ]s, ] and ]. On that first visit to a urologist in Austin, Texas, for his cancer symptoms he was already coughing up blood and had a large, painful testicular tumor. Immediate surgery and chemotherapy were required to save his life. Armstrong had an ] to remove his diseased testicle. After his surgery his doctor admitted that he had less than a 40% survival chance.<ref>Lance Armstrong, Sally Jenkins: ''It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life'' (ISBN 0-425-17961-3), Putnam 2000.
</ref>

The standard chemotherapeutic regimen for the treatment of this type of cancer is a cocktail of the drugs ] (], ], and ] (or ])). Armstrong, however, chose an alternative, ] (], ], and ]), to avoid the lung toxicity associated with the drug bleomycin.<ref name="Lance Armstrong 2000">Lance Armstrong, Sally Jenkins: ''It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life'', Chapter 5, (ISBN 0-425-17961-3), Putnam 2000.</ref> This decision may have saved his cycling career. His primary treatment was received at the ] (IU), ], Medical Center, where Dr. Lawrence Einhorn had pioneered the use of cisplatinum to treat testicular cancer. His primary oncologist there was Dr. Craig Nichols.<ref name="Lance Armstrong 2000"/> Also at IU, his brain tumors were surgically removed and found to contain extensive ] (dead tissue). His last chemotherapy treatment was received on December 13, 1996.

His cancer went into complete remission, and by January 1998 he was already engaged in serious training for racing, moving to Europe to race for the U.S. Postal team. A pivotal week (April, 1998) in his comeback was one he spent training in the very challenging Appalachian terrain around Boone, North Carolina, with his racing friend ].<ref name="Lance Armstrong 2000"/>

=== Tour de France success ===
], taking over the Yellow Jersey at ]]]
Before his cancer treatment, Armstrong had won two Tour de France stages. In 1993, he won the 8th stage and in ] he took stage 18 in honor of teammate ] who crashed and died on stage 15. Armstrong dropped out of the 1996 Tour on the 7th stage after becoming ill, a few months before his diagnosis.

Armstrong's cycling comeback began in 1998 when he finished fourth in the ]. In 1999 he won the Tour de France, including four stages. He beat the second rider, ], by 7 minutes 37 seconds. However, the absence of ] (injury) and ] (drug allegations) meant Armstrong had not yet proven himself against the biggest names. Stage wins included the prologue, stage eight, an ] in ], an Alpine stage on stage nine, and the second individual time trial on stage 19.

In 2000, Ullrich and Pantani returned to challenge Armstrong. The race that began a six-year rivalry between Ullrich and Armstrong ended in victory for Armstrong by 6 minutes 2 seconds over Ullrich. Armstrong took one stage in the 2000 Tour, the second individual time trial on stage 19. In 2001, Armstrong again took top honors, beating Ullrich by 6 minutes 44 seconds. In 2002, Ullrich did not participate due to suspension, and Armstrong won by seven minutes over ].

The pattern returned in 2003, Armstrong taking first place and Ullrich second. Only 1 minute 1 second separated the two at the end of the final day in Paris. U.S. Postal won the ] on stage four, while Armstrong took stage 15, despite being knocked off on the ascent to ], the final climb, when a spectator's bag caught his right handlebar. Ullrich waited for him, which brought Ullrich fair-play honors.<ref>In his book "Every Second Counts" Armstrong casts doubt that Ullrich did, in fact, wait for him. He states that Ullrich only slowed when told to do so by other riders.{{cite web
| title = Jan Ullrich wird zum "Ritter des Fair Play" (German for: Ullrich becomes "Knight of fairplay)
| publisher = Fair play in Sports
| url = http://www.sportunterricht.de/fairplay/janullrich03.html
| accessdate=March 5, 2007}}</ref>

In 2004, Armstrong finished first, 6 minutes 19 seconds ahead of German ]. Ullrich was fourth, a further 2 minutes 31 seconds behind. Armstrong won a personal best five individual stages, plus the team time trial. He became the first since ] in 1948 to win three consecutive mountain stages; 15, 16, and 17. The individual time trial on stage 16 up ] was won in style by Armstrong as he passed ] on the way despite setting out two minutes after the Italian. He won sprint finishes from Basso in stages 13 and 15 and made up a significant gap in the last 250m to nip Klöden at the line in stage 17. He won the final individual time trial, stage 19, to complete his personal record of stage wins.

In 2005, Armstrong was beaten by ] in the Stage 1 time trial by 2 seconds, despite passing Ullrich on the road. His Discovery Channel team won the team time trial, while Armstrong won the final individual time trial. To complete his record-breaking feat, Armstrong crossed the line on the Champs-Élysées on July 24 to win his 7th consecutive Tour, finishing 4m 40s ahead of Basso, with Ullrich third.

On July 24, 2005, Armstrong officially announced his retirement from professional cycling after his 7th consecutive Tour de France win.<ref>http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/event-news/armstrong-retires/576.html</ref>

=== Comeback II ===
], Texas]]
==== Astana: 2009 ====
{{seealso|2009 Astana season}}
Armstrong announced on September 9, 2008 that he would return to pro cycling with the express goal of participating in the ].<ref>] via ], .</ref> "After talking with my children, my family and my closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden", Armstrong said on his livestrong.org website.<ref>], .</ref>
VeloNews reported that Armstrong will race for no salary or bonuses and will post his internally tested blood results online.<ref></ref>

The announcement ended speculation that he would return with {{ct|AST|2009}} in the Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia and the Dauphiné-Libéré. Astana missed the 2008 Tour after ] was ejected from the 2007 Tour for testing positive.

Australian ] radio reported on September 24, 2008 that Armstrong would compete in the UCI ] through ] and surrounds in January 2009. UCI rules say a cyclist has to be in an anti-doping program for six months before an event, but the Tour Down Under allowed Armstrong to compete after he engaged ], a leading anti-doping scientist, to independently test him throughout his comeback races.<ref name="walker interview"/> The ], ], declared that Armstrong's participation would make the tour "the biggest sporting event in South Australian history."<ref name="rann comeback"/>

In October 2008, Armstrong confirmed he would compete in the ], his first participation.<ref></ref>

On January 17, Armstrong said at a press conference for the Tour Down Under that his comeback was motivated by spending most of his days spreading the Livestrong message and raising national awareness of cancer.<ref></ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Sharwood | first = Anthony | title = Mad about Lance Armstrong | work = ] | issue = 43 | date = February 2009 | pages = 38–41 | url = http://www.alphamagazine.com.au/features/article/lance-armstrong/ | accessdate = 2009-09-17}}</ref> Though his fitness levels had supposedly returned to peak condition,<ref name="walker interview"/> Armstrong placed 29th in the race.<ref></ref> Armstrong said he considered this a successful result, as the thousands of fans who flocked to Adelaide to see him compete &mdash; booking every hotel room in the city<ref name="walker interview"/> &mdash; added A$17 million to the South Australian economy, and the government rewarded his effort by pledging A$4.1 million towards the construction of a centre for cancer research.<ref name="cancer research centre"/>

Armstrong's stolen Trek bicycle was returned to the Sacramento police by an anonymous citizen on February 18, 2009. The time-trial bike was found four days after it disappeared from the Astana team truck after he used it before Stage 1 of the Tour of California. A police statement read, "The facts surrounding how the person came into possession of the bicycle are not being released at this time due to an ongoing investigation."<ref></ref>

In February 2009, Armstrong was confirmed to compete in the ] from 19–23 August 2009, before then participating in the Livestrong Global Cancer Summit from August 24-26th in Dublin.<ref></ref> The ] confirmed in early March that Armstrong will return to Europe to continue his comeback season with races at ] and the ].<ref></ref>
He had to retire from the 2009 Vuelta Castilla y León during the first stage after crashing in a rider pileup in ], Spain and breaking his ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/7959765.stm|title=Armstrong breaks his collarbone |date=2009-03-23 |work=]|accessdate=2009-03-23}}</ref>

Armstrong flew back to ] for corrective surgery, which was successful, and was back training on a bicycle within four days of his operation.<ref>http://eurosport.yahoo.com/25032009/3/armstrong-recovering-surgery-collarbone.html</ref> On April 10, 2009, a controversy emerged between the ] and Armstrong and his team manager, ], stemming from a March 17, 2009 encounter with an AFLD anti-doping official who visited Armstrong after a training ride in ]. When the official arrived, Armstrong claims he asked—and was granted—permission to take a shower while Bruyneel checked the official's credentials. In late April, the AFLD cleared Armstrong of any wrongdoing.<ref>http://eurosport.yahoo.com/10042009/3/french-want-tour-claims-armstrong.html</ref> Armstrong returned to racing after his collarbone injury at the ] in ] on 29 April.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/8023662.stm|title=Armstrong to return from injury |date=2009-04-28|work=]|accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref>

On 7 July, in the fourth stage of the ], Armstrong narrowly failed to win the yellow jersey after his Astana team won the ]. His Astana team won the 39&nbsp;km lap of ] but Armstrong ended up just over two tenths of a second (0.22) outside of ]'s overall lead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/8138996.stm|title=Armstrong just misses Tour lead |date=2009-07-07|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=2009-07-07}}</ref> Armstrong finished the 2009 Tour de France in third place overall, 5:24 behind the overall winner, his Astana teammate ].

==== Team RadioShack: 2010 ====
On July 21, 2009, Armstrong reported that he plans to return to the Tour de France in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/sports/cycling/22tour.html?em|title=Armstrong Says He Will Return for 2010 |date=2009-07-21|work=NY Times Sport|accessdate=2009-07-22}}</ref> ] has been named as the main sponsor for Armstrong's team in 2010: ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2009/news/story?id=4349772|title=Source: Lance's team lands sponsor |date=2009-07-23|work=ESPN.com|accessdate=2009-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://teamradioshack.com/getready/|title=Team RadioShack 2010 |date=2009-07-23|accessdate=2009-07-23}}</ref> Armstrong made his 2010 season debut at the ] where he finished 25th out of the 127 riders that completed the race. He will make his European season debut at the ] and will also compete in several classics such as the ], ], ], and the ].<ref>http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/01/news/bruyneel-confirms-armstrong-will-race-classics_103190</ref>

=== Physical attributes ===
Armstrong has recorded ] of 83.8 mL/kg/min (VO<sub>2</sub> max),<ref>{{cite web
| title = How Fast Could Lance Armstrong Run a Marathon?
| publisher = Runner's World
| date = September 26, 2006
| url = http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-297--10401-0,00.html
| accessdate=February 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title = FAQ: VO2 Max
| publisher = Running for Fitness
| date =
| url = http://www.runningforfitness.org/faq/vo2.php
| accessdate=February 23, 2009}}</ref> much higher than the average person (40-50), but<!-- The Armstrong Media Blitz keeps changing the facts. Can we stick to the facts and not have to pull out the real dirt people? --> lower than some other ] winners, such as ] (88.0, although reports exist that Indurain tested at 92-94) and ] (92.5).<ref>{{cite web
| title = VO2 Max&nbsp;— a Measure of Athletic Fitness
| publisher = bbc.co.uk
| date = January 22, 2002
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A660223
| accessdate=August 13, 2006}}</ref> He has a ] of 32-34 beats per minute (bpm) with a maximum heart rate of 201 bpm.<ref>The Lance Armstrong Performance Program ISBN 1-57954-270-0</ref>

=== Collaboration of sponsors ===
Armstrong revolutionized the support behind his well-funded teams, asking sponsors and suppliers to contribute and act as part of the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F06E3DA113BF93AA25757C0A9629C8B63|title=New York Times: CYCLING; Overhauling Lance Armstrong}}</ref> For example, rather than having the frame, handlebars, and tires designed and developed by separate companies with little interaction, his teams adopted a ] relationship with sponsors and suppliers named "F-One",<ref></ref> taking full advantage of the combined resources of several organizations working in close communication. The team, ], ], ], Bontrager (a Trek company), ], ] and ], collaborated for an array of products.

== Family and personal life ==
] during the ]]]
Armstrong was born to Linda Mooneyham, a secretary, and Eddie Charles Gunderson, a route manager for '']''. He was named after ], a ] wide receiver. His father left his mother when Lance was two and has two other children from another relationship. His mother later married Terry Keith Armstrong, a wholesale salesman, who adopted Lance in 1974.<ref>{{cite web | first = William | last = Addams | title = Ancestry of Lance Armstrong | publisher = William Addams Reitwiesner Genealogical Services ( "WARGS") | url = http://www.wargs.com/other/armstrongl.html | accessdate = 2007-09-22 }}</ref> Linda has married and divorced three times. Armstrong refuses to meet his birth father and has described Terry Armstrong as deceitful.<ref>{{cite web | first = Todd | last = Balf |title = "I'm Not the Next Greg LeMond. I'm the First Lance Armstrong." | publisher = Outside Magazine | month = July | year = 1994 | url = http://outside.away.com/magazine/0794/947flanc_2.html | accessdate = 2008-01-09}}</ref>

Armstrong met Kristin Richard in June 1997. They married on May 1, 1998 and have three children: Luke, born October 1999, and twins Isabelle and Grace, born November 2001. The pregnancy was possible through sperm Armstrong banked three years earlier, prior to chemotherapy and surgery.<ref>{{cite web | first = Sal | last = Ruibal | title = Cancer survivor Armstrong accepts new role | publisher = USA Today | date = May 22, 2002 | url = http://www.usatoday.com/sports/cycling/2002-05-22-cover-armstrong.htm | accessdate = 2008-01-09}}</ref> The couple filed for divorce in September 2003. At Armstrong's request, his children flew in for the Tour de France podium ceremony in 2005, where Luke helped his father hoist the trophy, while his daughters (in yellow dresses) held the stuffed lion mascot and bouquet of yellow flowers.

Armstrong began dating singer-songwriter ] in the autumn of 2003 and revealed their relationship in January 2004. The couple announced their ] in September 2005 and their split in February 2006. In October 2007, Armstrong and fashion designer ] ended a relationship after several months.<ref>{{cite web | first = Stephen M. | last = Silverman | title = Lance Armstrong, Tory Burch Break Up | publisher = People Magazine | date = October 3, 2007 | url = http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20130255,00.html | accessdate = 2008-01-09}}</ref> He dated American actress ] from May-July 2008. On July 30, 2008, a representative for Hudson announced the relationship had ended amicably.<ref>{{cite web | title = Report: Ashley Olsen Dating Lance Armstrong | publisher = FOXNews | date = October 31, 2007 | url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306796,00.html | accessdate = 2008-06-17}}</ref>

In December 2008, Armstrong announced that his girlfriend, Anna Hansen, was pregnant with his child. The couple started dating in July 2008 after meeting through Armstrong's charity work. Although it was believed that Armstrong could no longer father children, after having undergone chemotherapy for testicular cancer, this child was conceived naturally.<ref> CNN.com, December 23, 2008</ref> The baby boy, Maxwell Edward "Max" Armstrong, was born on June 4, 2009 in ]. Armstrong announced the birth using the ] service ].<ref>{{cite web | first = Lance | last = Armstrong | title = Wassup, world? My name is... | publisher = Twitter| date = June 4, 2009 | url = http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong/status/2038590710 | accessdate = 2009-06-06}}</ref> Armstrong has become a popular Twitter user with approx. 2,000,000 followers or more.
<ref>{{cite web | title = Lance Armstrong Twitter Home Page| publisher = Twitter| date = July 13, 2009 | url = http://twitter.com/lancearmstrong | accessdate = 2009-07-13}}</ref>

Armstrong owns homes in ] and Aspen, Colorado, as well as a ranch in the ].<ref name="cloudy">{{cite news | title = Armstrong attempts to quell dispute over Hill Country swimming hole | agency = Associated Press | date = October 25, 2006 | url = http://www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2006/10/25/StateLocal/Armstrong.Attempts.To.Quell.Dispute.Over.Hill.Country.Swimming.Hole-2400001.shtml?norewrite200610251211&sourcedomain=www.dailytexanonline.com | accessdate = 2006-10-25}}</ref> Armstrong is a fan of the ] ] ] program and is often seen on the sidelines supporting the team.

In regards to religion, he is ], quoted as saying, "at the end of the day, if there was indeed some body or presence standing there to judge me, I hoped I would be judged on whether I had lived a true life, not on whether I believed in a certain book, or whether I'd been baptized. If there was indeed a god at the end of my days, I hoped he didn't say, 'But you were never a Christian, so you're going the other way from heaven.' If so, I was going to reply, 'You know what? You're right. Fine.'"<ref>Lance Armstrong's book: ''It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life'', published by G.P Putnam's Sons 2000. pp. 116-118</ref>

== Allegations of drug use ==
Armstrong has been criticised for his disagreements with outspoken opponents of ] such as ]<ref>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/cycling/article4232249.ece</ref><ref>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/paul_kimmage/article2159415.ece</ref> and ].<ref>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article451832.ece</ref><ref name="timesonline.co.uk">http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article5750574.ece</ref> Bassons wrote a number of articles for a French newspaper during the 1999 Tour De France which made references to doping in the ]. Subsequently, Lance had an altercation with ] during the 1999 Tour De France where Bassons said Armstrong rode up alongside on the Alpe d'Huez stage to tell him "it was a mistake to speak out the way I do and he asked why I was doing it. I told him that I'm thinking of the next generation of riders. Then he said 'Why don't you leave, then?'<ref></ref> Armstrong confirmed the story. On the main evening news on TF1, a national television station, Armstrong said: "His accusations aren't good for cycling, for his team, for me, for anybody. If he thinks cycling works like that, he's wrong and he would be better off going home".<ref>Cited, ''L'Équipe'', 17 July 1999.</ref> Kimmage, a controversial journalist who referred to Armstrong as a 'cancer in cycling' also asked Lance questions in relation to his 'admiration for dopers' at a press conference at the Tour of California in 2009<ref name="timesonline.co.uk"/> provoking a scathing reaction from Armstrong. This spat continued and is exemplified by Kimmage's articles in '']''.<ref>Kimmage, Paul. , ''The Sunday Times'', 5 July 2009.</ref>

Armstrong has continually denied using "illegal" performance-enhancing drugs and has described himself as "the most tested athlete in the world".<ref>{{cite news
|last = BBC News
|year = 2006
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/3535573.stm
|title = Pound Stunned By Attack
|accessdate = 2006-08-12
| date=March 5, 2004}}</ref> A 1999 urine sample showed traces of ] in an amount that was not in the positive range. A medical certificate showed he used an approved cream for ] which contained the substance.<ref name="velonews050823">{{cite web
|last = VeloNews Interactive, with wire services
|year = 2005
|url = http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/8740.0.html
|title = L'Equipe alleges Armstrong samples show EPO use in 99 Tour
|work = News & Features
|publisher = Inside Communications
|accessdate = 2006-07-26
}}- "Throughout his career only one test showed indications of the presence of doping products. In the 1999 Tour, a urine sample showed small traces of cortico-steroids. Armstrong was cleared, however, when his U.S. Postal team, produced a medical certificate showing that he used a cream to ease the pain of a saddle sore. Even that sample, however, was below the levels that would have triggered a positive result at the time."</ref>

On March 17, 2009, French Anti-doping Agency tested Armstrong for the 24th time in the last year and the test was negative for performance-enhancing drugs.<ref>{{Citation | last = Albergotti | first = Reed | title = Lance to Drug Tester: Your Papers, Please | newspaper = Wall Street Journal | year = 2009 | date = April 8, 2009 | url = http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123915747307299985.html}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | title = Armstrong outraged by French misbehaviour claims | newspaper = Agence French Presse | year = 2009 | date = April 7, 2009 | url = http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gpWQTJmkqpByIaAMzL_-ZAO8qiKg | accessdate = 2009-09-28}}</ref>
=== Specific allegations ===
* Armstrong has been criticized for working with controversial trainer ]. ] described himself as "devastated" on hearing of them working together, while ] organizer ] said, "I am not happy the two names are mixed."<ref> ]</ref> Following Ferrari's later-overturned conviction for "sporting fraud" and "abuse of the medical profession", Armstrong suspended his professional relationship with him, saying that he had "zero tolerance for anyone convicted of using or facilitating the use of performance-enhancing drugs" and denying that Ferrari had ever "suggested, prescribed or provided me with any performance-enhancing drugs."<ref> ]</ref>

Ferrari was later absolved of all charges by an Italian appeals court of the sporting fraud charges as well as charges of abusing his medical license to write prescriptions. The court stated that it overturned his conviction "because the facts do not exist" to support the charges.<ref></ref>
* In 2004, reporters ] and ] published a book alleging Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs (''] - Les secrets de Lance Armstrong''). It contains allegations by Armstrong's former masseuse, Emma O'Reilly, who claimed Armstrong once asked her to dispose of used syringes and to give him makeup to conceal needle marks on his arms.<ref name="velonews050823"/> Another figure in the book, Steve Swart, claims he and other riders, including Armstrong, began using drugs in 1995 while members of the Motorola team, a claim denied by other team members.<ref>{{dead link|date=September 2009}}, ''The Scotsman'', June 20, 2004</ref> Allegations in the book were reprinted in the UK newspaper ''The Sunday Times'' in a story by deputy sports editor Alan English in June 2004. Armstrong sued for libel, and the paper settled out of court after a High Court judge in a pre-trial ruling stated that the article "meant accusation of guilt and not simply reasonable grounds to suspect."<ref></ref>

The newspaper's lawyers issued the statement: "The Sunday Times has confirmed to Mr. Armstrong that it never intended to accuse him of being guilty of taking any performance-enhancing drugs and sincerely apologised for any such impression." (See also<ref></ref> in ''The Guardian''). Armstrong later dropped similar lawsuits in France.<ref>, ''The Austin American-Statesman'', July 7, 2006</ref>
* On March 31, 2005, Mike Anderson filed a brief <ref>, by ''Mike Anderson'', March 31, 2005 - (warning: PDF-file, 2.8 MB)</ref> in Travis County District Court in Texas, as part of a legal battle following his termination in November 2004 as an employee of Armstrong. Anderson worked for Armstrong for two years as a personal assistant. In the brief, Anderson claimed that he discovered a box of Androstenone while cleaning a bathroom in Armstrong's apartment in ], Spain.<ref>{{dead link|date=September 2009}}, ''The Austin American-Statesman'', April 1, 2005</ref> Androstenine is not on the list of banned drugs. Anderson stated in a subsequent deposition that he had no direct knowledge of Armstrong using a banned substance.

Armstrong denied the claim and issued a counter-suit.<ref>{{dead link|date=September 2009}}, ''The Austin American-Statesman'', April 2, 2005</ref> The two men reached an out-of-court settlement in November 2005; the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.<ref>{{dead link|date=September 2009}}, ''The Austin American-Statesman'', November 5, 2005</ref>
* On August 23, 2005, ''L'Équipe'', a major French daily sports newspaper, reported on its front page under the headline "le mensonge Armstrong" ("The Armstrong Lie") that 6 urine samples taken from the cyclist during the prologue and five stages of the 1999 Tour de France, frozen and stored since at "Laboratoire national de dépistage du dopage de Châtenay-Malabry" (LNDD), had tested positive for ] in recent retesting conducted as part of a research project into EPO testing methods.<ref></ref><ref></ref> For years, it had been impossible to detect the drug, called erythropoietin, which builds endurance by boosting the production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. The world governing body of cycling, ] (UCI), did not begin using a urine test for EPO until 2001, two years after the samples were taken. This claim was based on an investigation in which they claimed to be able to match samples from the 1999 Tour that were used to hone the EPO test to Armstrong.<ref>, ''The Doping Journal, September 22, 2005</ref> To establish a link between Armstrong and the samples, Damien Ressiot<ref name="Andy Shen">{{cite web|url=http://velocitynation.com/content/interviews/2009/michael-ashenden|accessdate=2009-06-24|title=Interviews - Michael Ashenden|publisher=Velocity Nation|date=2009-02-04|author=Andy Shen}}</ref>, L'Equipe's reporter, matched the tracking numbers, with the indirect help of UCI and Lance Armstrong on the samples with those on Armstrong's record with the UCI during the 1999 Tour.

Armstrong immediately replied on his website, saying, "Unfortunately, the witch hunt continues and tomorrow's article is nothing short of tabloid journalism. The paper even admits in its own article that the science in question here is faulty and that I have no way to defend myself. They state: 'There will therefore be no counter-exam nor regulatory prosecutions, in a strict sense, since defendant's rights cannot be respected.' I will simply restate what I have said many times: I have never taken performance enhancing drugs."<ref></ref>

In October 2008, the ] gave Armstrong the opportunity to have samples taken during the 1998 and 1999 Tours de France retested.<ref></ref> Armstrong immediately refused, saying, "the samples have not been maintained properly." Head of AFLD Pierre Bordry stated: "Scientifically there is no problem to analyse these samples - everything is correct" and "If the analysis is clean it would have been very good for him. But he doesn't want to do it and that's his problem."<ref></ref>

* In June 2006, French newspaper '']'' reported claims by Betsy and ] during a deposition that Armstrong had admitted using performance-enhancing drugs to his physician just after brain surgery in 1996. The Andreus' testimony was related to litigation between Armstrong and SCA Promotions, a Texas company attempting to withhold a $5-million bonus; this was settled out of court with SCA paying Armstrong and Tailwind Sports $7.5 million, to cover the $5-million bonus plus interest and lawyers' fees.

The testimony stated "And so the doctor asked him a few questions, not many, and then one of the questions he asked was... have you ever used any performance-enhancing drugs? And Lance said yes. And the doctor asked, what were they? And Lance said, growth hormone, cortisone, EPO, steroids and testosterone.
"<ref name="npr.org"></ref>
Armstrong suggested Betsy Andreu may have been confused by possible mention of his ''post-operative treatment'' which included steroids and EPO that are taken to counteract wasting and red-blood-cell-destroying effects of intensive chemotherapy, but this is at odds with the fact that it was necessary for Armstrong to tell the doctor the list of drugs taken, and the use of the phrase "performance enhancing".<ref></ref>

The Andreus' allegation was not supported by any of the eight other people present, including Armstrong's doctor Craig Nichols,<ref></ref> or his medical history. However, according to Greg LeMond (who has been ] with his own disputes with Armstrong), there exists a recorded conversation in which Stephanie McIlvain, Armstrong's contact at Oakley Inc., said of Armstrong's alleged admission 'You know, I was in that room. I heard it.' McIlvain has contradicted LeMond and denied the incident occurred in her sworn testimony.<ref name="npr.org"/>
* In July 2006, the '']'' published a story on the allegations raised in the SCA case.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/cycling/la-sp-armstrong9jul09,0,5275381.story |title=Allegations Trail Armstrong Into Another Stage |last=Abrahamson |first=Abrahamson |publisher=] |date=2006-07-09 |accessdate=2009-07-10}}</ref> The report cited evidence at the trial including the results of the LNDD test and an analysis of these results by an expert witness.<ref></ref> From the ''LA Times'' article: "The results, Australian researcher Michael Ashenden testified in Dallas, show Armstrong's levels rising and falling, consistent with a series of injections during the Tour. Ashenden, a paid expert retained by SCA Promotions, told arbitrators the results painted a "compelling picture" that the world's most famous cyclist "used EPO in the '99 Tour."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jul/09/sports/sp-armstrong9?pg=4 |title=Allegations Trail Armstrong Into Another Stage |last=Abrahamson |first=Alan |publisher=] |date=2006-07-09 |accessdate=2009-07-10}}</ref> Ashenden's finding were disputed by the Vrijman report, which pointed to procedural and privacy issues in dismissing the LNDD test results. The ''LA Times'' article also provided information on testimony given by Armstrong's former teammate, Swart, Andreu and his wife Betsy, and ] conversation between Andreu and ] regarding blood-doping in the ]. Vaughters signed a statement disavowing the comments and stating he had: "no personal knowledge that any team in the Tour de France, including Armstrong's Discovery team in 2005, engaged in any prohibited conduct whatsoever." Andreu signed a statement affirming the conversation took place as indicated on the instant messaging logs submitted to the court.

The SCA trial was settled out of court, and the ''LA Times'' reported: "Though no verdict or finding of facts was rendered, Armstrong called the outcome proof that the doping allegations were baseless." The ''L.A. Times''' article provides a review of the disputed positive EPO test, allegations and sworn testimony against Armstrong, but notes that: "They are filled with conflicting testimony, hearsay and circumstantial evidence admissible in arbitration hearings but questionable in more formal legal proceedings."<ref name="Andy Shen"/>

=== Handling of urine tests ===
In October 2005, in response to calls from the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for an independent investigation, the UCI appointed Dutch lawyer ] to investigate the handling of urine tests by the French national anti-doping laboratory, LNDD. Vrijman was head of the Dutch anti-doping agency for ten years; since then he has worked as a defense attorney defending high-profile athletes against doping charges.<ref>{{cite web | title = California Western Alumni Professional News | publisher = California Western School of Law | url = http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=alumni.asp&body=alumni/AlumProfessionalNews.asp | accessdate = 2008-01-09}}</ref> Vrijman's report cleared Armstrong because of improper handling and testing.<ref>{{cite news | title = Armstrong cleared in drug inquiry | publisher = BBC | date = May 31, 2006 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/5033672.stm | accessdate = 2008-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = UCI report clears Armstrong | agency = Associated Press | work = VeloNews | date = May 31, 2006 | url = http://www.velonews.com/news/fea/9932.0.html | accessdate = 2008-01-09 }}</ref> The report said tests on urine samples were conducted improperly and fell so short of scientific standards that it was "completely irresponsible" to suggest they "constitute evidence of anything."<ref>{{cite news | first = Arthur | last = Max | title = Report Exonorates Armstrong of Doping | agency = Associated Press | work = San Francisco Chronicle | date = May 31, 2006 | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/05/31/sports/s045357D78.DTL&type=health | accessdate = 2008-01-09}}</ref> The recommendation of the commission's report was no disciplinary action against any rider on the basis of LNDD research. It also called upon the WADA and LNDD to submit themselves to an investigation by an outside independent authority.<ref>{{cite web | title = Independent Investigation&nbsp;— Analysis Samples from the 1999 Tour de France | publisher = Scholten c.s. Advocaten | work = VeloNews | url = http://www.velonews.com/media/report1999.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2008-01-09 }}</ref> The WADA rejected these conclusions.<ref>{{cite news | title = Wada boss slams Armstrong 'farce' | publisher = BBC | date = June 2, 2006 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/5043260.stm BBC | accessdate=January 5, 2010}}</ref> The IOC Ethics Commission subsequently censured ], the President of WADA and a member of the IOC, for his statements in the media that suggested wrongdoing by Armstrong.

In April 2009, Dr. Michael Ashenden said that "the LNDD absolutely had no way of knowing athlete identity from the sample they're given. They have a number on them, but that's never linked to an athlete's name. The only group that had both the number and the athlete's name is the federation, in this case it was the UCI." He added "There was only two conceivable ways that synthetic EPO could've gotten into those samples. One, is that Lance Armstrong used EPO during the '99 Tour. The other way it could've got in the urine was if, as Lance Armstrong seems to believe, the laboratory spiked those samples. Now, that's an extraordinary claim, and there's never ever been any evidence the laboratory has ever spiked an athlete's sample, even during the Cold War, where you would've thought there was a real political motive to frame an athlete from a different country. There's never been any suggestion that it happened."<ref></ref>

== Armstrong's work outside of cycling ==
In 1997, Armstrong founded the ], which supports people affected by cancer. During his original retirement beginning after the 2005 season, he also maintained other interests. He was the ] of the ] for the ].

In 2007, Armstrong with ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] founded ], a charity which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.<ref></ref> In 2008 and 2009 he appeared on the PBS Kids show ''Arthur'' as himself. In these two appearances he taught biking skills and helped spread cancer awareness, respectively.

In August 2009, Armstrong headlined the inaugural charity ride "Pelotonia" in Columbus, Ohio, riding over 100 miles on Saturday with the large group of cyclists. He personally addressed the riders the Friday evening before the two-day ride and helped the ride raise millions for cancer research.

=== Marathon ===
Armstrong ran the 2006 ] with friends Robert McElligott and Lewis Miles. With Nike, he assembled a pace team of ], ], and ] to help him reach 3 hours. He struggled with ] and was on pace for a little above 3 hours but pushed through the last {{convert|5|mi|km}} to 2h 59m 36s, finishing 856th. He said the race was extremely difficult compared to the Tour de France. "For the level of condition that I have now, that was without a doubt the hardest physical thing I have ever done. I never felt a point where I hit the wall. It was really a gradual progression of fatigue and soreness."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thefinalsprint.com/2007/01/a-classic-case-of-too-much-too-soon/|title=Lance Armstrong: A Classic Case of Too Much, Too Soon?|publisher=TheFinalSprint.com|date=January 7, 2007|accessdate=2009-09-28}}</ref> The NYC Marathon had a dedicated camera on Armstrong throughout the event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefinalsprint.com/2006/11/watch-the-nyc-marathon-online-live-or-ondemand/|title=Watch the NYC Marathon ONLINE&nbsp;— Live or OnDemand!|publisher=TheFinalSprint.com|date=November 2, 2006|accessdate=2009-09-28}}</ref> This camera, according to Armstrong, pushed him to continue through points in which he would have normally "stopped and stretched". He also helped raise $600,000 for his ] campaign during the run.

With more dedication to marathon training, Armstrong ran the 2007 NYC Marathon in 2h 46m 43s finishing 232nd, a substantial improvement from his previous year.<ref></ref> On April 21, 2008, he ran the ] in 2h 50m 58s, finishing in the top 500.<ref>{{dead link|date=September 2009}}</ref>

== Politics ==
] and Armstrong mountain biking at Prairie Chapel Ranch]]

In the '']'', teammate ] hinted at Armstrong's running for ] after cycling. In the July 2005 issue of '']'', Armstrong hinted at running for governor, although "not in '06".<ref>{{cite web | title = Breaking Away | publisher = Outside Magazine | month = July | year = 2005 | url = http://outside.away.com/outside/features/200507/lance-armstrong-interview-3.html | accessdate = 2008-01-09}}</ref> Armstrong and former president ], a ] and fellow Texan, call themselves friends. Bush called Armstrong in France to congratulate him after his 2005 victory, and in August 2005, '']'' reported the President had invited Armstrong to his ] to go ].<ref>{{cite news | first = Tom | last = Baldwin | title = Can this bike ride be Bush's tour de force? | publisher = The Times | date = August 18, 2005 | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1739689,00.html | accessdate = 2008-01-09}}</ref> In a 2003 interview with '']'', Armstrong said: "He's a personal friend, but we've all got the right not to agree with our friends."<ref></ref>

In August 2005, Armstrong hinted he had changed his mind about politics. In an interview with ] on ] on August 1, 2005, Armstrong pointed out that running for governor would require the commitment that led him to retire from cycling. Again, on August 16, 2005, Armstrong told a local Austin ] affiliate <ref>{{dead link|date=September 2009}}</ref> that he was no longer considering politics: <blockquote>"The biggest problem with politics or running for the governor—the governor's race here in Austin or in Texas—is that it would mimic exactly what I've done: a ton of stress and a ton of time away from my kids. Why would I want to go from pro cycling, which is stressful and a lot of time away, straight into politics?"{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}</blockquote>

In 2006, Armstrong began to clarify that he intends to be involved in politics as an activist for change in cancer policies. In a May 2006 interview with '']'', Armstrong is quoted: "I need to run for one office, the presidency of the Cancer Fighters' Union of the World."{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} ''Sports Illustrated'' quoted Armstrong that he fears halving his influence with legislators if he chose one side in politics. His foundation lobbies on behalf of cancer patients before ].

== Teams and victories ==
{{main|Career accomplishments of Lance Armstrong}}

== Filmography ==
* '']'' (]) (himself)
* '']'' (])
* '']'' (himself - voice) 2 episodes

== Accolades ==
* ] (USOC) SportsMan of the Year (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003)
* ] Male ] (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
* World's Most Outstanding Athlete Award, ] International Trophy (2000)
* ] Sportsman of the Year (2003)
* ] in Sports (2000)
* Sports Ethics Fellows by the Institute for International Sport (2003)
* ] (2003)
* ] (2000)
* Trophee de L'Academie des Sport (2004)
* '']'' Award by Velo Magazine in France (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)
* ''Mendrisio d'Or'' Award in Switzerland (1999)
* ''Premio Coppi-Bici d'Oro'' Trophy by the ] foundation in conjunction with ] (1999, 2000)
* ''Marca Legend'' Award by ], a Spanish sports daily in Madrid (2004)
* ] Award (2003)
* ] for Best Male Athlete (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
* ESPY Award for GMC Professional Grade Play Award (2005)
* ESPY Award for Best Comeback Athlete (2000)
* ESPN/Intersport's ''ARETE Award'' for Courage in Sport (Professional Division) (1999)
* ]'s ] Athlete of the Year (1999)
* Favorite Athlete award at ] (])
* Presidential Delegation to the ]<ref>{{cite press release
|url=http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020208.html
|title=President Announces Delegation to Winter Olympics
|date=February 8, 2002
|publisher=]
|accessdate=2007-09-22}}</ref>
* ] magazine's ] (2002)
* VeloNews magazine's International Cyclist of the Year (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)
* VeloNews magazine's North American Male Cyclist of the Year (1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005)
* ]: '']'' (2000)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.williamhillmedia.com/sportsbook_history.asp#2000 |title=Previous William Hill Sportsbook of the Year Winners |accessdate=2007-03-03 |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |work= |publisher=William Hill Press Office |pages= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=2000 Winner: It's Not About The Bike&nbsp;— Lance Armstrong }}</ref>
* ]: ] Elite Men's Cyclist (1996)
* Triathlon magazine's Rookie of the Year (1988)
* Pace car driver for the Indianapolis 500 (2006)
* An asteroid, 1994 JE<sub>9</sub> was named ] in honor of him.
* Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, ] (2006)

== See also ==
* ]
* ]

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em|refs=
<ref name="walker interview">{{cite news | last = Walker | first = Jamie | title = Conscience clear, cycling's god is ready for his second coming | work = The Weekend Australian | date = 2009-01-17 | page = 48 | url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/the-long-road-ahead-for-armstrong/story-0-1111118582454 | accessdate = 2009-11-15}}</ref>
<ref name="rann comeback">{{cite news | last = Migliaccio | first = Val | last2 = Kelton | first2 = Greg | title = The 'king' rides Down Under | work = The Advertiser | date = 2008-09-25 | page = 3 | url = http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,,24395988-2682,00.html | accessdate = 2009-11-15 | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5lHTYvHjB | archivedate = 2009-11-14}}</ref>
<ref name="cancer research centre">{{cite news | last = Kogoy | first = Peter | title = What's in a name? For Lance, a lot | work = The Australian | date = 2009-01-26 | page = 32 | url = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/whats-in-a-name-for-lance-a-lot/story-e6frg6nf-1111118664694 | accessdate = 2009-11-15}}</ref>
}}

== Further reading ==
* Lance Armstrong, Sally Jenkins: '']'' (ISBN 0-425-17961-3), Putnam 2000. Armstrong's own account of his battle with cancer and subsequent triumphant return to bike racing.
* Lance Armstrong, Sally Jenkins: '']'' (ISBN 0-385-50871-9), Broadway Books 2003. Armstrong's account of his life after his first four Tour triumphs.
* Linda Armstrong Kelly, Joni Rodgers: ''No Mountain High Enough: Raising Lance, Raising Me'' (ISBN 0-7679-1855-X), Broadway Books 2002. Armstrong's mother's account of raising a world class athlete and overcoming adversity.
* Daniel Coyle: ''Lance Armstrong's War: One Man's Battle Against Fate, Fame, Love, Death, Scandal, and a Few Other Rivals on the Road to the Tour De France'' (ISBN 0-06-073497-3), Harper Collins 2005. Former writer for Outside magazine documents Armstrong's road to the Tour in 2004, teaching us about both Armstrong and the Tour.
* Pierre Ballester, David Walsh: '']: Les secrets de Lance Armstrong'' (ISBN 2-84675-130-7), La Martinière {{fr icon}}. Various circumstantial evidence pointing to Armstrong doping.
* Pierre Ballester, David Walsh: ''L.A. Officiel'' (ISBN 2-84675-204-4), La Martinière {{fr icon}}. Why Armstrong gave up trial against the authors after publication of L.A. Confidentiel.
* Sharon Cook, Graciela Sholander: ''Dream It Do It: Inspiring Stories of Dreams Come True'' (ISBN 1-884587-30-5), Planning/Communications 2004. Chapter 4 details Armstrong's efforts to return to championship form following his cancer treatment.
* John Wilcockson: ''23 Days in July'' (ISBN 0-7195-6717-3), John Murray 2004. An account of how Armstrong won his 6th Tour title in 2004.
* John Wilcockson: ''The 2005 Tour De France: The Last Chapter of the Armstrong Era'' (ISBN 1-931382-68-9), Velo Press 2005. The story behind Armstrong's final Tour de France before his first retirement and his 7th consecutive victory.
* John Wilcokson: ''LANCE: The Making of the World's Greatest Champion'' (ISBN 9780306815874), Da Capo Press 2009. The story of what drives the 7-time Tour de France champion through the words of Armstrong's family, friends, rivals, and Armstrong himself.

== External links ==
{{wikiquote| Lance Armstrong}}
{{commons| Lance Armstrong}}
* {{official|http://www.lancearmstrong.com/}}
*
*{{cyclingwebsite|300}}
* {{imdb name|name=Lance Armstrong|id=0035790}}
* {{twitter|LanceArmstrong}}
*

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{{Persondata
|NAME= Armstrong, Lance Edward
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=American professional ]
|DATE OF BIRTH= September 18, 1971
|PLACE OF BIRTH=]
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|PLACE OF DEATH=}}

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Revision as of 17:45, 29 April 2010

For the Tasmanian politician, see Lance Armstrong (politician).

{{Infobox Cyclist | ridername = Lance Armstrong | image = NIH-lancearm2.jpg | image_caption = Armstrong in 2003
speaking at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. | fullname = Lance Edward Armstrong | nickname = The Boss, Juan Pelota, The Texan,
Mellow Johnny (from Maillot Jaune,
French for Yellow jersey) | dateofbirth = Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age |Dateofdeath = | height = 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | weight = 1993: 79 kg (174 lb)
199

  1. Gayle King Radio Show, Fed Ex http://www.oprah.com/media/20080601_oaf_20080619_oaf_gk
  2. Lance Armstrong, Sally Jenkins: Every Second Counts, Chapter 1, (ISBN 0-385-50871-9), Broadway Books 2003.
  3. TDF (2009). Astana - Lance Armstrong. Retrieved on 2009-07-04 from http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/RIDERS/us/coureurs/22.html.