Lance Armstrong is no dope: Planning a 2009 comeback

Update: Astana says there will be no Armstrong comeback with their team.  (AP)

In a development that will energize cycling fans, and will keep our weblog busy, Lance Armstrong appears to be staging a comeback to shake the ages.  To VeloNews:

Lance Armstrong will come out of retirement next year to compete in five road races with the Astana team, according to sources familiar with the developing situation.

Armstrong, who turns 37 this month, will compete in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia, the Dauphine-Libere and the Tour de France — and will race for no salary or bonuses, the sources, who asked to remain anonymous, told VeloNews.

Armstrong's manager, Mark Higgins, did not respond to questions.

However sources close to the story have told VeloNews that an exclusive article on the matter will be published in an upcoming issue of Vanity Fair, expected later this month.

Rumors of Armstrong's return swirled at last week’s Eurobike trade show in Germany and this week’s Tour of Missouri.

Vanity Fair?  Is that a preeminent cycling journal?  And Astana as a team?  Not like jumping into a once hopped-up, once doped-up cycling team.  Astana worked with the doping doctor himself, Dr. Michele Ferrari, who also worked with young Lance Armstrong.  From the NY Times (left link) on Ferrari, Astana, and Armstrong (And here too):

...Vinokourov had been the subject of intense questions since before the Tour, when he acknowledged that he had worked with the Italian physician Michele Ferrari, who has been linked with doping practices. Ferrari also worked with Lance Armstrong, who has defended Ferrari and said that Ferrari never provided him with or encouraged the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

With Armstrong back in the (sore) saddle, and Floyd Landis coming off suspension, 2009 could be an interesting year for cycling.  Armstrong plans on proving he is clean:

The rumor speculates that Armstrong will reunite with former team manager Johan Bruyneel at Team Astana — a viable option given Armstrong’s long-lasting relationships not only with the Belgian director but also Trek, Astana’s bike sponsor.

According to sources, the Texan will post all of his internally tested blood work online, in an attempt to establish complete transparency and prove that he is a clean athlete

If he comes back, Armstrong will need to rest his legs, and stop this 'sex god' tomfoolery...

Comments

[Erik]

The old Astana-sponsored cycling team had its problems, but it's hardly fair to imply that those issues still exist. The current team is entirely new - new riders, new management, new doctor (the UCI ProTour requires an M.D. to be on each team's staff). In addition, the new team runs a rigorous (and expensive) internal drug-screening program to be sure their riders are clean.

Quite literally, the only thing that the current Astana Pro Cycling Team has in common with the team of 2006-07 is the sponsor, who implemented the changes in the interest of running a clean team.

If the writers at Steroid Nation would've taken the time to do a little research, they'd have learned these things themselves.

I have to question the logic of anyone who would call into question the ethics of the current Astana-sponsored team. Doing so merely damages the good name of a very generous sponsor who's doing all they can to help the sport.

[sal m]

with all of the teams that armstrong could join, why would he pick one that has a suspicious past? is it because there isn't a cycling team with a clean history? this would have been a great opportunity for a sponsor without a checkered past to step up and create a new team for lance.

[ellis]

I want to believe Lance was and still is clean. With Floyd Landis and other top riders who have tested positive it was harder for me to believe Lance did what he did without substances. But if he can dominate the tour like he did in the past and prove he is not using, that will go a long way in clearing any lingering doubts people still have. I hope he does it.

[Cheat or Beat]

Lance would join that team because his good friend Johan Bruyneel is the director there. They have a history together, so that is the logical team for him to join. I could also see him joining Team Columbia with his buddy George Hincapie. I find the interesting this here is what Lance has announced is his motivation to returning. He wants to use his return to further promote his fight against cancer. If you were a team director, would you want him on your team knowing that is his motivation? Not that it is a terrible motivation, but it doesn't seem to be in the best interests of the team.

[Essie]

Eric states that the current Astana team has nothing in common with Astana in 2006-2007. However, seven of the riders from those years remain with Astana - Assan Bazayev, Steve Morabito, Dmitriy Muravyev, Andreas Kloden, Maxim Iglinski, Michael Schar and Gregory Rast. When you consider that Astana was previously Liberty Seguros, the team that was not allowed to start the 2005 Tour de France because their Director Manolo Saiz was arrested on doping charges and the team was heavily linked with Dr Fuentes, things get even more sus. Four riders from Liberty are now back with Astana - Alberto Contador, Jesus Hernandez, Daniel Navarro, and Sergio Paulinho. So it all adds up to 11 tainted riders on a tainted team. Why would you chose to ride for that team? Well, there's only one good reason, isn't there...

[Luke]

I've posted Lance's competitive schedule up to the 2009 Tour here if anyone is interested or has something to add: http://newrelease.co.za/lance-armstrong/lance-armstrongs-pre-tour-event-racing-schedule/