If, for a dare, the likes of Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps and Roger Federer were asked to race the Tour de France, how long would they survive? A day on steep uphills in the thin air of the Alps? A week on roads so sun-scorched that the tarmac melts?
Which is why, if judged solely on physical endurance, Lance Armstrong would hands-down win The Associated Press’ Athlete of the Decade award.
Perhaps never again will any athlete, let alone a cancer survivor, dominate the most grueling event in sports like he did. In winning seven consecutive Tours from 1999-2005, Armstrong not only made history, obliterating the previous record of five wins. He also transformed cycling, gave a kiss of life to the legendary race that had nearly overdosed on drug scandals and raised the bar on the definition of “exceptional.â€Â  … Details
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Tour de France winner Alberto Contador admits his Astana team is weaker with Lance Armstrong’s departure and the exodus of riders who followed the Texan to RadioShack.
“I know that right now we’re not at the level of Armstrong’s RadioShack (team), but the atmosphere is great and the desire to work hard is there,†Contador said at a preseason training camp Friday, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport’s Web site. “Let’s discuss it again in a few months.â€
Contador wasn’t interested in … Details
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Here’s your chance to own a very special collector’s item: A 2008 Beijing Olympic Cycling Jersey autographed by the gold medalist in the individual time trial, Kristin Armstrong. The jersey is currently up for auction on Ebay and proceeds from the sale will benefit the USA Cycling Development Foundation.
Kristin is arguably the most successful woman in the history of American road racing, with two World Championships and the Olympic Gold from Beijing. Â 100% of the proceeds will benefit the USA Cycling Development Foundation and support USA Cycling National Development Team athlete programs, which is where Kristin got her start.
Click here to check out the auction now.Â
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USA Cycling is proud to join the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), in partnership with the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Hockey League, the U.S. Olympic Committee and other national sports and health organizations, today in launching an effort to end the dangerous and unscrupulous practices of “rogue†manufacturers within the nutritional supplement industry.
USA Cycling is proud to support the USADA’s “Supplement Safety Now Initiative,†said Steve Johnson, USA Cycling CEO, “the lack of regulation of America’s multi-billion dollar supplement industry places athletes and everyday consumers at risk and it is time for all of us to join together in support of this effort.â€Â  … details
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