Bicycling and fitness coach Chris Carmichael answered the question that was on a lot of minds when he spoke Saturday at the Seattle International Bike Expo.
Could Lance Armstrong win the Tour de France again?
“He's an amazing athlete. I think he could. … It would take a lot of effort, but I think he could win it again.”
Carmichael said Armstrong, at age 36, is running in the Boston Marathon (April 21) and is looking to break 2:45; he wants to run in his third New York City Marathon (Nov. 2) and do it in 2:30; and he plans to ride at the Leadville 100 mountain bike race (Aug. 9).
Impact
Consider the impact that Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini made at the 2008 Tour of California. At age 40 and emerging from two years of retirement, Cipollini finished in the upper half of the prologue, took a 3rd place in a final sprint, and actually finished the race.
But winning the Tour de France is a lot different than finishing the Tour of California.
Armstrong retired in 2005, but Carmichael said he definitely could have won his eighth Tour de France the following year if he wanted it.
Lose desire
But after winning his 6th Tour de France in 2004, Carmichael said, Armstrong was beginning to lose his desire. His initial plan was to win Number 6, take off a year to set the world hour mark and race at the Giro d'Italia, then come back in 2006.
Carmichael could see that Armstrong's other interests — such as his kids and the foundation — were beginning to distract him more. Then he decided in early 2005 to race for six more months and call it quits.
Carmichael said he's frequently asked how Armstrong became such a great cyclist. The coach calls it “achieving unrelenting excellence,” which was the title of his talk.
He said that every year Armstrong would “dig in a little deeper and push a little harder. Whatever he did one year, was not good enough for the next year.”
Break 7?
Carmichael has authored a few books, which he sold and autographed at the bike expo; the latest is “5 Essentials for a Winning Life.” He's the founder and CEO of Carmichael Training Systems.
Seven Tour de France wins is an incredible record. Can it be broken?
“Yes I think it will. Records are made to be broken, but I don't see anyone on the horizon who can do it.”
Metal Cowboy
Also speaking at the expo on Saturday, and returning Sunday at 12:30, was bicycle touring author and humorist Joe Kurmaskie.
You'll probably remember him as the Metal Cowboy and the dad who lugged his two boys across country on a 17-foot rig. That became the book, “Momentum is Your Friend.”
If you get the Adventure Cycling Association magazine, you'll know that last summer he rode across Canada with his wife and three sons (the family included a 1-year-old). That will be the book “Mud, Sweat and Gears,” to be released in September.
You can hear Joe at 12:30 on Sunday, or check out his Metal Cowboy website.
Recent Comments