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PAGE 8: PAGE 8 SPECIAL: LANCE ON FRANCE
Brad Roe
November 7, 2008
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It’s safe to say that there our few in the Lance camp who actually believe he won’t be starting the 2009 Tour de France in Monaco. Although he hasn’t gotten the official word from the organizers, there aren’t many fans who can even imagine him not racing the Tour this summer. To ponder a Lance comeback and not picture him in Paris? That would be, as Chris Carmichael aptly commented to RBA this week, “ridiculous.”
At the wind tunnel in San Diego, RBA was able to sit down and listen to Lance as he questioned his July plans and also discussed the psychology of the French people, organizers and media who, at times, have chosen to vilify him-The same Lance Armstrong whose path to athletic heroism was achieved in the very mountains, towns and villages of France itself. There is a curious and tense relationship between the seven-time Tour champion and the country of France, and as the rain was falling in San Diego, we had the chance to hear why he thinks this relationship is so complicated and more importantly what he plans to do about it.
The question on everyone's mind is, will he start the 2009 Tour de France? (photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
"I simply don’t know and I’m not in a hurry. It’s November. I’m realistic when it comes to a lot of things about the Tour. I know how to win, also how great the event is and I know there is tension. Tension with the French cycling fans, the French media and certainly with the organizers. And right now, I don’t want to deal with tension. And I don’t know if I want to deal with tension in July."
Lance brought up his concern about safety more than once in San Diego
(photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
On relating the Tour to college football and safety….
"I watch sports every weekend. I watched Texas play Texas Tech this weekend. Those people, they hated, hated, Texas. Hated them. And I hated football after that game (Texas lost in an upset). So I’m watching it and thinking…. the trick there is that you are in a stadium and your protected…but if they hate you and you are on the road, they can get you. So you have to find a balance. Do I want to try to go for an eighth Tour or help the team win a Tour or do I want to help further the international cancer campaign and all this over the animosity that exists?"
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