Depending on when he finishes his professional cycling career, Lance Armstrong has said that he will compete in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii in either 2011 or 2012.
“I will be in Kona (the Ironman start and finish town) 15 months after the final Tour (de France) … if it’s 2010, then it will be Kona 2011,” Armstrong told AAP. “If it’s 2011, it will be Kona 2012.
“I’m not saying that with any expectation, it will require months and months of getting back into swimming and running. But I want to just do it, just for fun – I started in tri’s and I’ve always looked up to those guys.”
Armstrong’s background is as a triathlete, with the Texan being one of the youngest professionals on the circuit prior to focussing fulltime on his cycling career.
After his retirement in 2005, he ran three marathons. Providing he can work on his swimming and ramp up the running once again, he should start in good shape. As to what he can achieve, it’s impossible to predict at this point in time.
“I grew up following and admiring the Big Four, I was here in 1989 when Dave Scott and Mark Allen duked it out until mile 25 and a half (of the marathon),” he explained. “I was in the follow car, I watched the whole thing – it was unbelievable.
“I come at it from just the perspective of a fan. I don’t know I could be top three, top five or top 10, but anyway, I want to come and finish.”
Before then, he has set himself the goal of winning another Tour de France. He has taken seven to date, two more than the previous record set by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernhard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.
Arch rival Alberto Contador has now taken two, as well as the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. He and 2009 runner-up Andy Schleck are likely to be Armstrong’s main opposition this July.