I think Lance Armstrong's return is great news for cycling. While the sport can stand on its own without him, Lance's presence still has the potential to increase the visibility of the sport, as it did during his run of 7 Tour de France wins. His comeback adds a component of breath-holding uncertainty as we stand back and see if he can do it again.
I believe he can.
He will compete in five races, including the Tour de France and the Tour de California.
Lance's stated reason for his return is raising cancer awareness. The Lance Armstrong Foundation has done important and amazing work for this cause. He has indeed become the face of hope for many who want and believe they can beat their cancer.
His high profile presence has raised millions of dollars for cancer research for the development of treatment, with the goal of eradication.
But all that said, my guess is he came back for the reasons that Brett Favre is now playing for the Jets, and Michael Jordan came back to the Bulls after a few dismal years in baseball. The love of the game; the love of the pursuit of excellence and the lifestyle that goes along with working to be the best. The absolute best.
Perhaps spurred on by the likes of people like Favre and Dara Torres; athletes who some said were past their prime but who continue to compete with not only incredible talent, but the maturity that comes with mid-life and beyond.
Being an older athlete affords you the benefit of perspective. It affords you the ability to bring forth other strengths you have developed in the course of your life in and out of the athletic arena. By the time Jordan lost a little bit of his vertical, he was playing some of the smartest and saviest ball of his career.
At 37, Lance is still in incredible shape. There is no reason he cannot win No. 8.
Let's look at what he's been doing since he left the sport of cycling. He has run three sub-three hour marathons. Probably will add another to that list if he runs Chicago next month. His first attempt at the distance netted him a 2:59:36, on a stress fractured tibia. That's a sub-7 minute pace.
Subsequent to that, his next two marathons were 2:46:43 (also at New York) and 2:50:58 at Boston this year. If he's ready, he could set a person best at Chicago next month. We've all figured out that he can do anything he puts his mind to -- including a return to cycling.
And last month, he finished second at the Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race. Grueling isn't even a strong enough word for this event. My guess is it was probably what cemented the return, though I am sure he's been thinking about it for a while.
Lance worked often and well with the first-place winner Dave Wiens, throughout the race. He probably misses that kind of camaraderie in his racing. Marathoning is a solo endeavor. His history is with a group of guys, working together toward a common goal of victory with Lance at the helm.
So I say more power to him. Show the world, like Dara and Brett have, that being an aging athlete only brings the benefits of mental strength and maturity to your game. Show the world that at 37 he can still win No. 8, even three years removed from his last win.
And I hope he inspires many Masters Athletes and GeezerJocks, because he is figuring out what we already know. That remaining active, fit and involved in our sports, not only makes us better with maturity, but keeps us focused on what we can do as we get older. Not on what we can't.
Viva Lance! I wish him the best of luck, and I'll be watching every stage of the 2009 Tour.
