It's deja vu all over again for Lance Armstrong fans who read the following Tweet on Monday:
“And yes, this will be final Tour de France. It's been a great ride. Looking forward to 3 great weeks…… Doh, sorry, meant “my” final Tour.”
Last time he announced his retirement, he was a 33-year-old with an unprecedented six Tour de France championships to his credit. He made that announcement to a roomful of reporters before the start of the Tour de Georgia in 2005.
He went on to win the Tour de France that year — number 7, and made good on his pledge to retire — for 3 1/2 years.
Cycling comeback
Armstrong returned to race in 2009, finishing third in the Tour de France on the Astana team that saw all but open warfare between Armstrong and the eventual winner, Alberto Contador.
At 38, Armstrong is making another bid to win his 8th Tour de France. This time it's with his own team sponsored by RadioShack.
Illness and crashes
It hasn't been an easy year. He came down with some intestinal bug during the spring races and crashed out of the Amgen Tour of California. He didn't break his collarbone in the fall, like he did in 2009, but he injured his elbow and needed stitches after a face plant.
Armstrong has come back since then to race in two one-week prep races: the Tour of Luxembourg, in which he finished in 3rd place overall and the Tour de Suisse, in which he finished in 2nd, just 12 seconds behind the winner.
Training
Accompanied by team manager Johan Bruyneel in a car, he's been testing himself of some of the biggest climbs of this year's Tour de France, which starts Saturday in Rotterdam. Earlier Monday he just wrapped up a training ride on the Col de la Madone. The results:
“Record time? No. Close to it? Yes. I'm ready.”
So, do you believe Armstrong? Is this his last Tour de France?
I think it is. I hope it is. He might think he's ready for another go at it, but there are a lot of cyclists in this year's peloton who also say that they're ready.
Another icon retires
Earlier this spring, we here in Seattle witnessed the ignoble end of Ken Griffey Jr.'s illustrious baseball career. The 40-year-old home run hitter (630) just came out for one season too many.
At the end of last season, he was carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates. This year he saw a dwindling role, playing in only 33 games as he batted a dismal .184 with no homers. Griffey probably thought he was “ready” too at the end of Spring training.
On June 3, Junior issued a press release and disappeared down the road.
Who wants to see that for Armstrong? Not me. Let's hope he finishes strong this year, and keeps his word to call it quits.
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