Armstrong to go for seven
(Filed: 16/02/2005)
In pics: Armstrong's six Tours
Lance Armstrong has confirmed he will race in this year's Tour de France and aim for a seventh straight win.
There was speculation that Armstrong would skip the race that made his name, in favour of cycling's other landmark events.
However, Armstrong, 34, has announced he will compete this year after becoming the first man to win six Tours in 2004.
Voyage of discovery: Lance Armstrong will look to win a record seventh Tour
He said: "I am grateful for the opportunity that Discovery Communications has given the team and look forward to achieving my goal of a seventh Tour de France (victory).''
Discovery have taken over sponsorship of the team from US Postal, who financed the first six Armstrong Tours.
Part of the deal was that Armstrong would compete in at least one more Tour.
However, Armstrong had hinted he might wait until next year before fulfilling his obligation and instead race in one of the other Grand Tours, the Giro d'Italia or the Vuelta a Espana.
But that now seems unlikely as he revealed some of his plans for the coming season.
He will start with seven-day Paris-Nice next month, the first event of the newly-formed Pro Tour, and will also tackle the Tour of Flanders, historically one of the most prestigious races on the calendar, and the Tour of Georgia on home soil in April before considering the rest of the year.
"I am excited to get back on the bike and start racing although my condition is far from perfect,'' he said.
"Johan (Bruyneel, the team's sports manager) and I will evaluate my fitness later this spring and possibly add some races to the calendar.'' |
