Armstrong may not be done after all

**Telephil** · 09-06-2005, 01:53 PM

I still consider it doubtful at best, but he said it himself.

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/4844624

**fondigley** · 09-06-2005, 01:54 PM

funny I just read that over in the ski section.

**Telephil** · 09-06-2005, 02:09 PM

sure enough. I never check that forum anymore.

**Big E** · 09-06-2005, 02:30 PM

I don't understand how returning to competitive cycling now, in 2005/6, does anything to change the rumors of doping in 1999. I could care less about road cycling, but please, don't pull an MJ and "unretire."

**Free Range Lobster** · 09-06-2005, 02:34 PM

He's probably just blowing smoke up their asses.

**bagtagley** · 09-06-2005, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by likwid

He's probably just blowing smoke up their asses.

Can't you read? He doesn't dope!

**Free Range Lobster** · 09-06-2005, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by bagtagley

Can't you read? He doesn't dope!

Damn, caught me!

**carbonissimo** · 09-06-2005, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Telephil

I still consider it doubtful at best, but he said it himself.

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/4844624

I predicted he wasn't done before the Tour ended.

**Pedro** · 09-06-2005, 07:30 PM

Funny how they refer to it as a comeback....its not like hes been retired for 2 months yet. I call that a Vacation.

**Woodsy** · 09-06-2005, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by Telephil

sure enough. I never check that forum anymore.

I think phil is french.

**Woodsy** · 09-07-2005, 09:04 AM

Armstrong to Train With Team This Winter
Sep 07 8:35 AM US/Eastern

By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer

PARIS

Lance Armstrong plans to train with his team this winter, increasing speculation he will end his retirement and attempt an eighth straight Tour de France win.

"It's definitely an open possibility, I know he is on the bike," Discovery Channel team director Johan Bruyneel told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday.

"He absolutely wants to be part of the training camp in December and wants to get fit to compete with the guys there," Bruyneel said, adding that Armstrong can decide to return as late as February.

When Armstrong retired in July after his seventh straight Tour win, Bruyneel had to decide whether to recruit a new team leader. He opted not to do so, suggesting the door may have been kept open for the Texan.

"We didn't really look for somebody to replace him," Bruyneel said. "For one there is nobody, not a strong leader like he was. Without him we have a very good team ... but not the favorites."

The Amaury Sport Organization, which organizes the Tour, would not comment on the speculation.

"We will express ourselves only if and when he decides to come out of retirement," spokesman Christophe Marchadier said. "There is nothing to stop him coming back on the Tour as a professional cyclist."

Armstrong, who turns 34 later this month, won this year's Tour by a comfortable margin _ 4 minutes, 40 seconds ahead of Italian Ivan Basso and 6:21 ahead of Jan Ullrich of Germany.

"I'm sure he could win (another Tour)," Bruyneel said. "The way he won this year ... everything pretty much under control and he never showed any weakness. He has another Tour in his legs yet."

Armstrong, who announced his engagement Monday to rock singer Sheryl Crow, issued a statement Tuesday confirming that he's considering a comeback in part to rankle French media.

On Aug. 23, sports daily L'Equipe, which is owned by the Tour organizer, reported it had evidence that six of Armstrong's urine samples from the 1999 Tour tested positive last year for the blood booster EPO. The substance was banned in 1999, but there was no reliable test at the time.

"I think he's been very offended," Bruyneel said. "If you know him he doesn't need a lot to find some motivation. I think it woke up the competitive side of him."

Should Armstrong return, the media scrutiny surrounding him would be intense and he would likely receive a hostile reception from the French public.

"He proved in the past that he can deal with that. He is at his maximum under pressure," Bruyneel said. "Physically and mentally he can deal with a lot."

**Woodsy** · 09-16-2005, 08:37 AM

fri Sep 16, 1:08 AM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Worn down by doping scandals an exhausted Lance Armstrong said on Thursday he had decided against a return to competitive cycling.
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Angry over recent doping allegations that have appeared in the French sports daily L'Equipe, the seven-times Tour de France winner said recently he might return to racing, the accusations out of France having awoken his competitive side.

But as the doping controversy continued to swirl on Thursday, Armstrong who turns 34 on Sunday, dismissed any thought of a comeback, saying he will stay retired.

"I'm happy with the way my career ended. I'm not going back," Armstrong was quoted in USA Today. "I'm sick of this.

"I opened it back up because in my heart it seemed like the right answer. But now I know I couldn't go to France and get a fair shake on the road, in doping control or the hotels."

Armstrong was thrust into the center of another doping scandal last month after L'Equipe reported it had proof that six of Armstrong's urine samples collected on the 1999 Tour de France showed traces of the banned substance EPO (erythropoietin).

There were no tests to detect EPO, a drug that increases the level of red blood cells and endurance, in 1999.

However, samples from the 1999 Tour de France were kept and have been recently retested by a laboratory outside Paris.

Armstrong, who survived cancer, has steadfastly denied ever taking performance-enhancing drugs

**Telephil** · 09-16-2005, 08:44 AM

You still think I'm french?

**Blatant** · 09-16-2005, 11:11 AM

The whole doping thing has grown into such a circus and yet they still seem to spiral off and ask him some dumbass question about cheryl crow. I hope the dude IS done, he was lucky to make it thru this year w/o being harassed and bothered by numerous factors. I think he's right, he'd never get a fair shake. I hope he takes some hotshot kid under his pedal and grows that fawker into lance jr and continues to flog all the haters.

Originally Posted by Woodsy

fri Sep 16, 1:08 AM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Worn down by doping scandals an exhausted Lance Armstrong said on Thursday he had decided against a return to competitive cycling.
ADVERTISEMENT

Angry over recent doping allegations that have appeared in the French sports daily L'Equipe, the seven-times Tour de France winner said recently he might return to racing, the accusations out of France having awoken his competitive side.

But as the doping controversy continued to swirl on Thursday, Armstrong who turns 34 on Sunday, dismissed any thought of a comeback, saying he will stay retired.

"I'm happy with the way my career ended. I'm not going back," Armstrong was quoted in USA Today. "I'm sick of this.

"I opened it back up because in my heart it seemed like the right answer. But now I know I couldn't go to France and get a fair shake on the road, in doping control or the hotels."

Armstrong was thrust into the center of another doping scandal last month after L'Equipe reported it had proof that six of Armstrong's urine samples collected on the 1999 Tour de France showed traces of the banned substance EPO (erythropoietin).

There were no tests to detect EPO, a drug that increases the level of red blood cells and endurance, in 1999.

However, samples from the 1999 Tour de France were kept and have been recently retested by a laboratory outside Paris.

Armstrong, who survived cancer, has steadfastly denied ever taking performance-enhancing drugs