Seven-time winner has one more shot at securing an eighth Tour de France victory
RadioShack leader Lance Armstrong announced today via Twitter what many suspected; the 2010 Tour de France will be his final ride in cycling’s biggest event.
Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times consecutively from 1999 to 2005, and came back from cancer to break the record of five wins, surpassing Jacques Anquetil (1957, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964), Eddy Merckx (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1974), Bernard Hinault (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985) and Miguel Indurain (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995), who was the first to win five consecutively.
“And yes, this will be final Tour de France. It’s been a great ride. Looking forward to 3 great weeks,” Armstrong said on Twitter.
He then quickly followed it up with, “Doh, sorry, meant “my” final Tour.”
Armstrong smashed the previous record of Tour wins in his youth, but at 38 years of age, he will have his work cut out for him in a strong field of contenders.
He will enter the race on a high note after recently finishing second overall in the Tour de Suisse after a season full of ups and downs.
The Tour de France begins this Saturday July 3rd in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with last year’s winner Alberto Contador the favorite to take his third Tour crown.