news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_s ... 605378.stm As surprises go, this one will be up there with the best of them. What the guy has achieved has makes him, in my opinion at least, the best sportsman ever (although that debate could go on and on). Not sure how much of a gamble this is though. Anything other than a win for the guy will be considered as a failure and it would be a huge shame if his career didn't end on a "high", although I'm sure that some could argue that he is still better than the riders who have won since he's been in retirement.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_s ... 605378.stm As surprises go, this one will be up there with the best of them. What the guy has achieved has makes him, in my opinion at least, the best sportsman ever (although that debate could go on and on). Not sure how much of a gamble this is though. Anything other than a win for the guy will be considered as a failure and it would be a huge shame if his career didn't end on a "high", although I'm sure that some could argue that he is still better than the riders who have won since he's been in retirement.

True, there has been no dominant force in the TdF since Armstrong's departure, we always used to get a rider who would dominate for a period of time before retiring:- Indurain, Mercxx, Lemond, Hinault etc.

Might be the kick up the jacksy that the current crop need and knuckle down to some serious training to fully realise their potential. What we have in todays cycling is a culture of 'wheel-sucking' and being conservative in the saddle when what is needed is someone to attack and stamp their own authority/personality on the race.

I bet the French will welcome Lance back with open arms seeing as they hold him in such high regard

Big mistake in my opinion. Why can't people just retire with their legendary status in tact

Maybe that isn't what motivates him. I for one am delighted to see him back. A sporting hero. He'll be a legend regardless of what happens next year.

Exactly right...he will always remain a legend even if he doesnt complete the tour next year...however if he is serious about it, which he most certainly will be, then I cant see anyone competing with him...I was about 70% certain about going over there to see it next year but now Im 100% going over!! Roll on the unveiling of the route in the next few weeks!!

Any guesses what team he would come back with too?? There's the obvious Astana link but they might not even be allowed to enter le tour yet...how about the garmin-chipotle team? they're american and havent really got a dominant team leader at the moment...and they have a massive anti-doping policy there too...or maybe columbia alongside our very own Cav???

I wonder if the shares in the pharmaceutical market have increased on the back of this news...

You'd have to think that Astana would be favourites with his links with Johan Bruyneel and Trek.

his team has been confirmed

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Ray_RobinsonNot even close[/url.

Is it Glaxo?

Eddy Mercx was twice the cyclist Armstrong was/is

What he said. Mercx was miles better than Armstrong.

Bit of training....[urlhttp://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/armstrong-livestrong-win-snowmass-12-hour-18540[/url

lance riding in aussie january

he needs too be tested 6 months before he races again , its the rules . he might not make down under yet . plus france has offered too retest lances samples from years ago

. lance declined

So how long are these samples kept for, and where are they kept?

i read that there are hints that his samples taken years ago in france . have been tamped with by the french they can keep them for years . FRANCE'S anti-doping chief has proposed that Lance Armstrong agree to a retesting of urine samples from his first Tour de France win to determine whether they show traces of EPO. The samples, which date from 1999, are frozen in France's drug testing laboratory in the suburbs of Paris www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

i read that there are hints that his samples taken years ago in france . have been tamped with by the french they can keep them for years . FRANCE'S anti-doping chief has proposed that Lance Armstrong agree to a retesting of urine samples from his first Tour de France win to determine whether they show traces of EPO. The samples, which date from 1999, are frozen in France's drug testing laboratory in the suburbs of Paris www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

its official . lance is comming down under

Lance Armstrong unsure about 2009 Tour tilt "I want to say I'm not trying to be coy, I'm not playing games with them (the Tour) or with fans or with media. I simply don't know," Armstrong said today during wind tunnel testing in San Diego. "I'm not in a hurry. It's November 4. www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

Lance Armstrong unsure about 2009 Tour tilt "I want to say I'm not trying to be coy, I'm not playing games with them (the Tour) or with fans or with media. I simply don't know," Armstrong said today during wind tunnel testing in San Diego. "I'm not in a hurry. It's November 4. www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

lance racing tomorrow . tour down under

It is being referred to as the "Tour De Lance" in some quarters.

His decision to start racing again appears to be motivated in part by publicising his Cancer Charity Foundation and raising money for that. I doubt he'll be in peak fitness to actually win, but he's certainly generating column inches and publicity, both for this and the Tour De France.

there's nowt else on the local news apart from lance at the moment , he's certailnly been in the spotlight since his arrival

2nd day of tour of aus . lance might make a move

Is it too late for Lleyton Hewitt to participate, as he has a couple of spare weeks on his hands?

lance had a dig today . last day of tour . but an aussie guy won