Cycling: Will Armstrong Return to France?
Written by playerpress.com, Wednesday November 19 2008
A few months ago Lance Armstrong announced he was returning to the Tour de France. Flushed with his participation in the New York Marathon, he seemed ready to reclaim his glory days.
Now, he seems more reluctant about going back to Paris. He has committed to the Giro d’Italia which is considered a tune up for the Tour. In that competition he will race against defending Tour de France Champion Carlos Sastre. Sastre welcomes Armstrong’s entry into the Giro and says it will be more than a tune up if he is presented an opportunity to compete against Armstrong.
Since Armstrong must build a team to compete that could be offered as the reasoning behind committing to the Giro and reserving his entry into the Tour. If the team is not ready it is better to fail in a lesser event. Of course, part of his reluctance could lead back to past allegations that Armstrong must confront.
Cycling is a dirty sport. Drug use among its participants is heavier than it was by members of the Sex Pistols. The sport has sunk to the depths of suspending winners and watching riders get arrested when they test dirty during an event.
Armstrong weathered the storm and accusations throughout his career. The French press was always after him and so were several riders, including Greg LeMond. Theirs was a falling out for the ages and left a bad taste in the mouth of everyone associated with cycling.
Although Armstrong hasn’t been away from the sport for long, things have changed. Technology makes it easier to determine hidden traces of performance enhancers. If Armstrong is dirty he will not defy detection.
Armstrong has accomplished as much off the course as he did on his bike. As a cancer survivor who went on to heights of athletic glory he is a true hero. That is provided he did it honestly. If Armstrong’s sudden reluctance to commit to the Tour de Franc is based on steroid use he would be wise to disappear.
All of those yellow rubber wrist bands that have been sold in his honor and to benefit his charity will not provide a life preserver large enough to save him from going under. The reaction to Barry Bonds will be mild next to what he will incur. Bonds was always considered an ass, so no one liked him before the allegations. Armstrong was a hero and a role model. Coming up dirty will piss off everyone who held him up as an example.
Armstrong and cycling do not need the potential scandal. Armstrong can remain a retired athlete who accomplished something that may never be matched. Winning anything seven times is no easy feat.
If Lance is dirty he would be wise to rest on his laurels. If he is clean, then his return should be a boost to a sport that needs uplifting. He may not achieve the feats he was capable of when he won seven Tours, but he could lift a battered sport off of its knees. He could be either a hero, or a villain, but only he knows for certain. I hope he chooses wisely.
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I hope Lance does it again... Though I read somewhere he's nervous about his security during the tour if he does...