Armstrong Hints That He Might Skip Tour De France

[Benny Profane]

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: November 6, 2004


Filed at 1:56 p.m. ET

PARIS (AP) -- In his strongest comments yet on next year's Tour de France, Lance Armstrong says he is unsure if he will ride in cycling's showcase event because he'd like to compete in other races.

Armstrong, who won a record sixth straight Tour de France this year, said in Saturday's edition of L'Equipe it is ``time to move onto other things.'' He has previously been somewhat evasive about whether he will return in 2005.

``Honestly, I don't know if I will be at the start of the next Tour,'' he told the sports newspaper. ``There are a lot of other things I would like to do in cycling before retiring. So I tell myself 2005 could be a good year to do these (other races).''

The 32-year-old Texan has dedicated most of his cycling life to the Tour, leaving little room for such Classic races as the Paris-Roubaix or Fleche Wallone, which he won in 1996 shortly before being diagnosed with cancer, or the Spanish Vuelta.

``For once, my race calendar is not decided 100 percent for the start of the year,'' he said. ``I prefer it to be flexible and have the freedom to decide when I choose a race. If that means the Tour, then I will decide when I like. If it's Paris-Roubaix, then that's the same thing.''

However, if Armstrong does skip next year's Tour, he could return the following year.

``Of course, I will continue to adore the Tour. It remains the most important race in the world,'' he said. ``If I am not there next year, it is not a sanction against the race or its fans.''

His new team sponsor, Discovery Channel, most likely would urge Armstrong to take part in at least one more Tour before he retires.

[eDub]

Lance just gave a live interview during the Texas/OK State football game and the commentator asked he about the article.

He confirmed that he might skip next year's Tour to focus on other races. But he also said that he will race in at least one more Tour and if he skips the 2005 Tour, he will definitely race in the 2006 Tour.

[Plakespear]

He's saying he might skip it now, but I think around March or April he'll have his radar locked in on the Eiffel Tower again.

Or else he's planning an all out assault on the Giro.

[phUnk]

Or else he's planning an all out assault on the Giro.

Good luck with that. My Giro has taken plenty of abuse and is still going strong.










(Sorry.)

[skimoore]

I thought (and I could be and probably am wrong) that part of the deal with discovery channel taking over the team was that lance would have to compete in the next tour....since he is kinda the most important guy on that team. but maybe he realized the discovery jersey is way uglier than the postal service one, and he just wants to enjoy the free subarus and go skiing.