Should Lance make a comeback?

In what could be the shortest retirement in sports history, Armstrong is already talking about getting back on the bicycle. This just six weeks after the conclusion of the Tour de France, which he said absolutely would be his last race.

He wanted to spend time with now-fiance Sheryl Crow. He wanted to spend quality time with his three kids.

Well, I guess he's done all that. Time to ride!

At first he joked to the Austin American-Statesman about getting back in the Tour de France just to “piss off” the French.

Then in Mexico City, Armstrong told a group during a motivational speech that he might not do the Tour de France, but there are other Grand Tours — the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana. According to Reuters:

“The Tour de France is not the only bike race in the world, but it is the biggest, so the possibility could still exist to do a Tour of Italy, a Tour of Spain. …

“I have to be honest and say the chances are very small (of returning to the Tour de France). There are a lot of reasons not to do it, the fact that I would open myself up for even more questioning, scrutiny, potential sabotage and potential unfair accusations.

“That's not appealing. But at the same time I think I'm still in my prime, I think I can still ride at a high level.”

Also, AP reports that Armstrong is going to show up at the winter training camp for the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team.

Is Armstrong serious or is he just trying to get attention? At 33, he certainly isn't too old to compete. And the way he handled his rivals in this year's Tour de France showed that he still had everything under control. (The above photo that Mrs. Biking Bis took in Mende this year is a snapshot for the Tour — Armstrong driving to the finish with Ivan Basso and Jan Ullrich just hanging on for the ride.)

Armstrong said the recent allegations in the French sports newspaper L'Equipe about blood doping raised his competitive hackles again. I can believe that. Armstrong back in the saddle means more cycling coverage on OLN. If he gets in the Giro or Vuelta, that could mean daily broadcasts from those races.

Does he need to completely dominate those races? I don't think so. I'd just like to see him give it is best shot, which, considering his personality, is a foregone conclusion.

When he retired, the big discussion about this household was “What's he going to do with the rest of his life?” Well, he's thinking about putting off this issue for another year or two.