Courtesy of foxcycle.blogspot.com

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know by now that Lance has announced his plans to come out of retirement and return to professional cycling. He will be re-united with his old friend Johann Bruyneel and race on the Astana squad. He will not be paid for his racing but will instead use the exposure to promote cancer awareness around the globe. Mr. Armstrong is a cancer survivor himself who overcame testicular cancer to return to the sport of cycling and win seven consecutive Tours de France.

Once he started winning the Tour de France his critics came out of the woodwork. The doping record of professional cycling hasn’t helped. He has undergone test, after test, after test and there have been no conclusive results that have linked Lance to illegal performance enhancing drugs. It never fails though that rumors will begin circulating anytime Mr. Armstrong is in the news regarding cycling. His announcement to return to cycling after a four-year absence is no different. Lance is receiving more criticism in the area of drug use even though he has committed to making his blood tests public following his return. Don Catlin, former head of UCLA’s World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory, will post Armstrong’s biomarkers online for the entire world to see.

Mr. Lemond decided to show up at an Interbike Trade Show press conference last week where Lance was set to outline the details of his comeback. Lance allowed Lemond the first question and he immediately set to questioning Catlin’s testing methods. The press conference was moved along by Armstrong after an exchange between Lemond and Catlin but Lemond wouldn’t let it die stating, “So, the whole history has just been passed over?” Yes, Greg, it has. The investigations, the countless tests, and the court appearances are over with. No charges have been filed. No substantial evidence has been produced. No bans have been issued. No wins have been stripped. You need to get a grip and move on. I almost wonder if you’re not jealous of Lance’s success. Where’s the Lemond I grew up with that was fighting the politics of the European peloton to establish himself? Where’s the Lemond that overcame a horrific hunting accident to win the tour? Where’s the Lemond that put USA cycling on the map? Wherever he is you need to find him, have him step up to the plate with Lance, and make the sport better instead of continually trying to re-open old wounds.

In short, don’t be a tool.

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Photo Courtesy of TDWsport.com

Astana Team Manager Johan Bruyneel (former US Postal and Team Discovery Channel manager) is already comparing Contador to Lance Armstrong. “I think we’re seeing a new phenomenon like Lance. I don’t like to compare riders, but from what I’ve seen in him I’ve only seen in Lance, especially in the mountains,” said Bruyneel. “It’s a very unexpected victory. If he can win the Giro at 80 percent, I see a very big future for Alberto.” Personally, I think it’s way too early to make that comparison. Sure, Bruyneel managed Lance for his seven Tour de France victories but to begin comparing another Contador to Lance after one Tour and one Giro victory is a stretch in my book. Especially after his Tour win last year was basically given to him after race leader Michael Rasmussen was booted from the race with only four days to go. Let Contador win a couple more Tours and then I’ll be open to begin drawing comparisons.

Photo Courtesy of TDWsport.com

Aside from Contador coming off vacation to win the Giro, I think the story of this year’s race was the success of Team High Road and Slipstream-Chipotle. In the final stage, Team High Road took first, second, and fourth positions while Slipstream-Chipotle took fifth and sixth. That’s five of the top six positions going to American teams. The first place finish of Marco Pinotti in stage 21 gave Team High Road four stage victories in this years Giro while Slipstream-Chipotle took the opening Team Time Trial victory in stage 1 with Team High Road finishing the Team Time Trial in second place. Team High Road managed to take first and second on stages 17 and 21. Both teams had multiple top ten stage finishes.

I know Contador pulled off the victory but I think the team of the race has to be Team High Road while Mark Cavendish of Team High Road should be considered the rider of the race. Cavendish finished the 2008 Giro with two stage wins, two second place finishes, and two other top tens. Very impressive. As to be expected, though, he struggled on the mountain stages and gave up lots of time there.

Now the big question is, “Will Astana be asked to participate in the Tour de France?” With Contador stating that “This was better than a second tour win” I’m sure this has only added fuel to the already growing fire. Astana was only given about a weeks notice that they could ride the Giro and then pulled off a major upset. That’s proof alone at how strong a team they are. Should they be allowed to ride the Tour? I think yes. This is not the same Astana team as last year that removed itself from the race following Alexander Vinokorouv’s positive drug test. They are under new management and have new riders. They have both the first and third place (Levi Leipheimer) finishers from the 2007 Tour De France and now have the winner of the 2008 Giro de Italia.

Can the Tour afford to not invite them?

I welcome your opinions.

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