Lance Armstrong, the Man Behind the Inspiration
Lance Armstrong is an amazing guy. How many people do you know who at the age of 38 are willing to undertake the gruelling 3000+ miles of the Tour de France, in blistering heat, rain, flat land and mountains? I certainly am not, and I love road bike cycling.
Some time ago there were doubts over Lance Armstrong. Doubts about the tests that he undertook because he was accused of drug taking to enhance his performance. He has overcome that and still keeps fighting.
Before that he suffered from cancer. He was written off, but that just made him angry. He fought through, came out the other side, and put his full weight behind the Livestrong charity.
He has had broken bones, disappointments, and suffered personal attacks on him and his family. As he said in interview in the 2010 Tour, “It’s the nature of the sport…sometimes you’re the hammer, sometimes you’re the nail. Today, I was the nail. I have 20 days now to be the hammer.”
This man will be the name that everyone will remember. Long after the names of Contador, Schlek and Cavendish have passed from memory, Lance Armstrong will still be there, quoted by commentators. His name will be used over and over…”Just like Lance Armstrong…do you remember when Armstrong did just that…is this rider another Lance Armstrong?”
Young men will hang Lance Armstrong posters above their bed for inspiration, perhaps dreaming of the day when they too can take up the yolk of professional cyclist. Pundits and bloggers will continue to rage about did he cheat or didn’t he? Some will find evidence, if it can be called that, to show that he was a fraud all his life – I have read that so called evidence and don’t believe it.
In the end, perhaps even after this tour, Armstrong will hang up his cycling shoes and begin the long journey home to the history books. One thing is for sure, he will never be forgotten.