tour de france lance armstrong
Of fatal cancer for unparalleled triumph, the story of Lance Armstrong
With his recent unprecedented seventh victory in the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong is perhaps the greatest cyclist in history.
The early years
Born Lance Edward Gunderson on September 18, 1971, Texas Plano, to Linda Gayle Mooneyham and Eddie Charles Gunderson. Eddie disappeared when Lance was two years old and remarried Linda Terry Keith Armstrong, whose surname he took Lance. Lance did not get along with her stepfather, who does not seem to in several years, and has expressed no desire to meet his biological father.
Lance was very athletic from a young age, as he began running and swimming seriously at the age of ten. For thirteen years, had begun competing in triathlons of adult fans. Turned pro at sixteen thriathlete, winning the national championship sprint-course triathlon next year, and becoming the number Rated a triathlete in the years and age group.
Cycling Race
Lance soon chose to focus on his favorite, and best, cycling, and in 1990 became the U.S. national amateur champion. The following year, he qualified for the U.S. Olympic cycling team, and finished tenth fourth in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
The following year, Lance turned pro, joining the team and finishing the year Motorola ranked first in the world. His achievements in that year as winning the eighth stage of his first Tour de France, becoming the youngest man to win the World Cycling Championship en route, and the first man to win the Triple Crown, "saving Classic Drug, Kmart West Virginia Classic and the CoreStates USPRO National Championships. His first Tour de France was disappointing, however, despite his leg eighth victory, he soon fell back, and finally withdrew from the race.
Cancer Recovery
In 1995, Lance won his first Tour de Pont, a race that had already competed twice. 1996 began as another successful year for him, which he repeated his victory in the Tour de Pont, this time scoring record number of races, and once again qualified for the Olympic Games U.S. team, despite the recovery of bronchitis.
On October 2, 1996, however, Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer of the third stage nonseminomatous testis, which, because it's late diagnosis had already spread to his abdomen, lungs, lymph nodes, and later, including the brain. Hoping to save his career, Lance opted for a more dangerous course of chemotherapy, and underwent surgery to remove his testicle, and tumors your brain. She was given a 50% chance of survival. Her doctor told her later, however, that the real chances were closer to 3%, and had Lance given the highest probability to help keep your mood. In February 1997, was declared free of cancer, and established the Lance Armstrong Foundation for patients with cancer. in 1998 he returned to take fourth place in World Championship Road Race. The same year, he married Kristin Richard, whom he had met through of its foundation.
Tour de France victories and divorce
Competing in the Tour de France for the first time in several years, Armstrong won his first victory in the race, and won four of the twenty stages. He repeated in 2000, this time defeating two of his main rivals, who had been absent from the last race, Jan Ullrich and Marco Pantani, with Ullrich in second place. In this year also suffered discharge system in a car accident, but recovered in time for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where he received a bronze medal.
In 2001 and 2002, Ullrich returned to take second place to Armstrong in the Tour de France. He won again in 2003, but in that year full of divorce from Kristin Armstrong, citing difficulties with their cancer care and the many trips. Lance continued his winning streak, however, claiming victories in 2004 and 2005, bringing its total to seven before finally retiring. Currently holds the record for most wins by anyone.
Current
Armstrong now devotes his time to his charitable foundation, while competing in cycling and running various events. From 2003-2006, dated singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. Lance currently resides in a home in Austin, Texas, where he also owns a ranch. For some great biographies others, see: Barack Obama, 2008 , File Share and Hillary Clinton 2008 .
Date of birth: September 18, 1971
Died: –
Famous for: cyclist and an athlete of renown, founder of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Major Achievements: Register retention of seven times Tour de France winner, cancer survivor.
Significant Quote: "Being a champion is redefining what is humanly possible. "
Fun Quote: "You know when I have to die?" When I'm done living. When you can not walk, can not eat, can not see when I'm eccentric old bastard, mad at the world. Then I can die. "
Lance Armstrong Climbs Luz Ardiden 2003
