Lance going for Seven

FKNA.

http://www.active.com/story.cfm?stor...504&sidebar=17

Armstrong to race 2005 Tour de France
Agence France-Presse
2/16/2005

WASHINGTON, Feb 16 (AFP) - Lance Armstrong has ended speculation over whether he will race in the 2005 Tour de France by saying he will go for a seventh straight victory in this year's race.
Armstrong made history by becoming the first cyclist to win six Tours de France with a dominating performance, winning five individual stages, in 2004.

"I am grateful for the opportunity that Discovery Communications has given the team and look forward to achieving my goal of a seventh Tour de France," Armstrong told the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's website.

Armstrong will kick off his season early next month in the Paris-Nice seven-day stage race, the first event of the newly formed Pro Tour, the sport's top level racing series.

"I am excited to get back on the bike and start racing although my condition is far from perfect," said Armstrong.

Following Paris-Nice, Armstrong will take part in the 89th edition of the Tour of Flanders, one of Europe's most prestigious Spring Classics, on April 3.

Armstrong last raced in the Tour of Flanders in 2002, finishing 59th in support of his team's leader.

The Texan will then return to the US and defend his title at the Tour de Georgia from April 19-25.

"Johan (Bruyneel, the team's sports manager) and I will evaluate my fitness later this spring and possibly add some races to the calendar," said Armstrong.

Bruyneel said from Brussels that they had opted for the more realistic option.

"There were two possibilities which had been agreed in the contract with the sponsor," said Bruyneel.

"Either to ride in the Tour this year or the next one.

"We opted for the most realistic solution.

"It is easier to prepare for a similar goal six months ahead of it than 18 months.

"Lance feels sufficiently strong mentally to race again in the Tour de France, which will be his main target this season.

"And you know, if Armstrong takes part in such an event it is with just one goal in mind. To win it," added Bruyneel.

Olaf Ludwig, head of former Tour winner Jan Ullrich's T-Mobile team, said he was not surprised by Armstrong's decision.

"I thought he'd race. His sponsors are not going to leave their best rider out," he said.

Ullrich was fourth last year while T-Mobile team-mate Andreas Kloden was second, six minutes behind Armstrong.

Armstrong's initial 2005 schedule:

March 6-13: Paris-Nice (France)
April 3: Tour of Flanders (Belgium)
April 19-24: Tour de Georgia (USA)
July 2-24: Tour de France

Sweet - it'll be interesting to see how it goes . . . :cool:

nah...it'll be boring. He'll win again. The most interesting part of the Tour was his slight procrastination in deciding if he'd do it again this year. Now that he's decided, the race is over. ;) ;)

As much as I loved Indurain, I've got to respect this Lance character.

Let's hope he gets some decent competition this year.

SaAaH (and am special cause I saw two stages live (really. That makes me special. I checked)),
d.