Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lance Edward Gunderson September 18, 1971 Richardson, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional road cyclist (retired) |
| Years active | 1992–2005, 2009–2011 |
| Known for | Seven consecutive Tour de France wins (1999–2005; titles later revoked) |
Lance Edward Armstrong (born Gunderson; September 18, 1971) is a retired American professional road cyclist. He rose to global fame by securing seven straight victories at the Tour de France from 1999 through 2005. However, these titles were revoked in 2012 after a USADA investigation exposed his prolonged use of performance-enhancing drugs during his career. Armstrong has been prohibited from participating in all officially sanctioned cycling competitions.
At age 16, Armstrong embarked on his athletic journey as a triathlete, claiming the national sprint-course championship titles in both 1989 and 1990. He began his professional cycling career in 1992 with the Motorola Cycling Team. Between 1993 and 1996, he achieved significant triumphs including winning the 1993 UCI Road World Championships, the Clásica de San Sebastián in 1995, and the Tour DuPont in 1995 and 1996, as well as earning stage victories in the Tour de France. After being diagnosed with metastatic testicular cancer in 1996, Armstrong made a recovery and established the Lance Armstrong Foundation (now known as the Livestrong Foundation) to aid cancer survivors.
From 1998 until 2005, Armstrong was part of the US Postal/Discovery squad, where he claimed all seven of his Tour de France wins. He initially retired following the 2005 Tour but returned to competition in 2009 with the Astana Pro Team, finishing third overall that year. Between 2010 and 2011, he raced for Team Radio Shack before retiring once more.
Although Armstrong consistently denied doping allegations for many years, a USADA report released in 2012 identified him as the mastermind behind "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program in sport." He accepted a lifetime suspension from all sports governed by the World Anti-Doping Code, effectively ending his competitive career. The UCI upheld this ruling and decided against reallocating his stripped Tour de France titles due to pervasive doping suspicions among riders during that period.
In January 2013, Armstrong publicly confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs. Later, in April 2018, he reached a settlement with the U.S. government by agreeing to pay $5 million following whistleblower litigation initiated by former teammate Floyd Landis.
Early life
Born Lance Edward Gunderson on September 18, 1971, at Methodist Hospital in Richardson, Texas, Armstrong's mother Linda Armstrong Kelly (née Gayle Mooneyham) was raised in Oak Cliff. His first name was inspired by Lance Rentzel, a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. After his parents divorced in 1973, he adopted the surname of his stepfather, Terry Keith Armstrong. He later attended Plano East Senior High School.
Early career
During 1987–1988, Armstrong held the top ranking for the under-19 age group within Tri-Fed/Texas (now known as USA Triathlon). At sixteen years old, he turned professional in triathlon and secured national sprint-course championships consecutively in 1989 and 1990.
Motorola: 1992–96
Armstrong entered professional cycling with the Motorola Cycling Team in 1992 and went on to win ten one-day races and stage events during 1993. His major breakthrough was capturing the World Road Race Championship title held in Norway that year. Additionally, he earned a stage victory at the 1993 Tour de France. That season, he completed the Thrift Drug Triple Crown of Cycling by winning the Thrift Drug Classic in Pittsburgh, K-Mart West Virginia Classic, and the CoreStates USPRO national championship. There were allegations suggesting he bribed a rival competitor to secure victory at CoreStates.
In 1994, Armstrong repeated his triumph at the Thrift Drug Classic and finished runner-up at the Tour DuPont. He also placed second in prominent European classics such as Liège–Bastogne–Liège and Clásica de San Sebastián. At that year's World Championships held in Agrigento, he finished seventh.
Armstrong later admitted to beginning doping during "late spring of 1995." That same year saw him win Clásica de San Sebastián along with overall victory at Tour DuPont. He also achieved several European stage wins including one at the Tour de France, shortly after teammate Fabio Casartelli tragically died from a crash.
In 1996, Armstrong became the first American to claim victory at La Flèche Wallonne while again winning Tour DuPont. During that year's Tour de France, he competed for five days and later finished sixth in the time trial and twelfth in the road race at the 1996 Olympic Games. In August of that year, he signed a two-year contract worth $2 million with French team Cofidis alongside riders Frankie Andreu and Laurent Madouas. Two months afterward, he was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer.
Cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery
At the age of 25, on October 2, 1996, Armstrong received a diagnosis of stage three testicular cancer (embryonal carcinoma), which had metastasized to his lymph nodes, lungs, brain, and abdomen. He sought advice from urologist Jim Reeves in Austin, Texas, and underwent an orchiectomy the following day to remove the diseased testicle. Reeves later recounted that Armstrong's chances of survival were "almost none," initially estimating them between 20 and 50%, primarily to instill hope.
After being referred by oncologist Steven Wolff, Armstrong opted for treatment at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. His chemotherapy started with the conventional BEP protocol (bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin) but was changed to VIP (vinblastine, etoposide, ifosfamide, cisplatin) for subsequent cycles to prevent lung toxicity. Armstrong attributes this treatment approach to saving his professional cycling career. His lead oncologist was Craig Nichols, while neurosurgeon Scott A. Shapiro performed surgery to remove brain lesions.
Armstrong completed his chemotherapy regimen on December 13, 1996. By January 1997, he had resumed training with the Cofidis team in France and was officially declared cancer-free in February. Nevertheless, after unsuccessful contract negotiations in October, Cofidis chose not to renew his agreement. Armstrong then signed a $200,000 annual contract with the US Postal team and relocated to Europe by January 1998 to intensify his training and prepare for competition.
US Postal/Discovery: 1998–2005
Prior to his cancer diagnosis and treatment, Armstrong had competed in four editions of the Tour de France, securing two stage victories. In 1993 he won stage eight and in 1995 took stage 18, dedicating that victory to teammate Fabio Casartelli, who tragically died on stage 15. Armstrong withdrew from the 1996 Tour after stage five due to illness, months before his cancer was detected.
Armstrong’s return to professional cycling began in 1998 when he entered Paris–Nice, although he abandoned the race early. Back in Texas, he considered retiring but instead committed to rigorous training near Beech Mountain alongside former pros Bob Roll and Chris Carmichael. In May 1998, he organized his second charity event for cancer research called The Race for the Roses, which attracted prominent cyclists including Greg LeMond and Miguel Induráin.
He then captured victory at the Tour of Luxembourg. At the 1998 Vuelta a España, Armstrong surprised many by finishing fourth overall, showcasing strong performances in both time trials and mountain stages. He also placed fourth in both events at the 1998 UCI Road World Championships. These achievements earned him third place in the Vélo d'Or awards voting. In 1999, Armstrong won the Tour de France with four stage wins, finishing more than seven minutes ahead of runner-up Alex Zülle. However, notable competitors Jan Ullrich and Marco Pantani were absent due to injury and doping allegations.
The year 2000 saw Ullrich and Pantani return to competition, sparking a six-year rivalry between Ullrich and Armstrong. Armstrong secured victory by over six minutes and claimed one stage win. At the 2000 Summer Olympics, he initially earned a bronze medal in the men's road time trial but was later stripped of this honor in 2013 due to doping violations.
Armstrong maintained dominance at the Tour de France with wins in 2001 (defeating Ullrich by nearly seven minutes), 2002 (winning by seven minutes over Joseba Beloki), and 2003 (a close victory over Ullrich). The 2002 race featured crucial support from US Postal teammate Roberto Heras, who led Armstrong during key climbs. In 2003, Armstrong narrowly avoided injury when rival Beloki crashed heavily during stage nine; Armstrong took an unintended shortcut without penalty to evade harm. Throughout these years Ullrich remained his primary challenger.
In 2004, Armstrong achieved his sixth consecutive Tour win, finishing more than six minutes ahead of German cyclist Andreas Klöden. He set a personal record with five individual stage victories plus a team time trial win. Notably, he became the first rider since Gino Bartali in 1948 to claim three consecutive mountain stages and dominated the individual time trial up Alpe d'Huez.
In 2005, despite losing the opening time trial by two seconds to American David Zabriskie, Armstrong’s Discovery Channel team triumphed in the team time trial. He won the final individual time trial and successfully defended against numerous attacks from competitors such as Ivan Basso, Ullrich, Andreas Klöden, Alexandre Vinokourov, and former teammate Levi Leipheimer. This marked his record-breaking seventh straight Tour de France title; he finished nearly five minutes ahead of Basso with Ullrich placing third. His average speed of 41.7 km/h set a new Tour record. That year Armstrong announced retirement to concentrate on family life and his foundation. During retirement he largely stepped away from professional cycling but showed renewed interest after witnessing Carlos Sastre’s victory on Alpe d’Huez in 2008.
Astana Pro Team: 2009
On September 9, 2008, Armstrong declared his intention to re-enter professional cycling with the goal of competing in the 2009 Tour de France. He agreed to participate without receiving any salary or performance bonuses and pledged to make his blood test outcomes publicly accessible. The UCI granted an exception allowing him to race in the 2009 Tour Down Under, waiving the standard six-month anti-doping clearance period.
During the 2009 Vuelta a Castilla y León, Armstrong sustained a fractured collarbone but made a swift comeback following surgery. In April, he encountered a conflict with the French anti-doping agency AFLD; however, by late April, he was exonerated of any misconduct. Armstrong returned to competition at the Tour of the Gila on April 29.
At the 2009 Tour de France, Armstrong’s Astana squad secured victory in the team time trial stage, narrowly missing out on the yellow jersey by just 0.22 seconds. He ultimately finished third overall, trailing teammate Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck.
Team RadioShack: 2010–11
Armstrong confirmed on July 21, 2009, that he would compete in the 2010 Tour de France with Team RadioShack as his primary sponsor. His season commenced at the Tour Down Under, followed by a seventh-place finish at Vuelta a Murcia. Illness due to gastroenteritis forced him to withdraw from multiple spring classics.
He prepared for the Tour de France through participation in events such as the Tour of Gila and Tour of California but had to pull out of the latter after a crash. Armstrong rebounded to claim second place at the Tour of Switzerland and third at the Tour of Luxembourg.
In June 2010, Armstrong announced that the forthcoming Tour de France would mark his final appearance. He started strongly with a fourth-place finish in the prologue but lost time early on due to crashes. Throughout mountain stages, he contributed significantly to breakaways and helped Team RadioShack secure the team classification victory. He ended the Tour ranked 23rd overall.
By October 2010, Armstrong stated he would retire from international competition after participating in the January 2011 Tour Down Under and would continue racing domestically with RadioShack’s U.S.-based squad.
On February 16, 2011, amid ongoing federal doping investigations, Armstrong officially stepped away from professional cycling.
Sponsor Integration
Armstrong bolstered his well-funded teams by fostering collaboration among sponsors and suppliers as integral partners rather than independent entities. Instead of having separate companies independently produce frames, handlebars, and tires, his teams employed a Formula One-inspired approach known as "F-One," which maximized combined resources through close cooperation. Prominent collaborators included Trek, Nike, AMD, Bontrager (a Trek subsidiary), Shimano, Sram, Giro, and Oakley, working together across multiple product lines.
Doping Controversies, Investigation, and Admission
Throughout his career, Armstrong faced ongoing accusations related to doping, which he consistently refuted until January 2013 when he admitted involvement. Prior to this confession, he insisted he never tested positive while competing.
He engaged in confrontations with vocal critics such as Paul Kimmage and Christophe Bassons. Bassons—reportedly one of the few riders on Festina not involved in doping during the 1999 Tour de France—publicly addressed doping issues within professional cycling. During that event, Armstrong confronted Bassons directly, urging him either to cease speaking out or leave cycling altogether. Armstrong later acknowledged this encounter on national television, dismissing Bassons’ claims as damaging both to cycling and their team.
Kimmage—a former professional cyclist turned journalist—described Armstrong as a "cancer in cycling" and openly challenged him regarding his stance on doping athletes. Armstrong responded sharply to these critiques. This tension was evident in Kimmage’s writings for The Irish Independent.
Armstrong maintained his innocence for another four years after these disputes, asserting that he was among the most frequently tested athletes worldwide. Between late 2008 and March 2009 alone, he reported undergoing twenty-four unannounced drug tests administered by various anti-doping organizations.
Collaboration with Michele Ferrari
Armstrong encountered significant backlash due to his association with the contentious coach Michele Ferrari, whom he was reportedly introduced to by Eddy Merckx in 1995. Greg LeMond expressed deep disappointment over their partnership, while Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc openly opposed their connection. Although Ferrari’s conviction for "sporting fraud" and "abuse of the medical profession" was eventually overturned, Armstrong maintained that he had ceased professional ties with Ferrari and denied any involvement with doping facilitated by him.
Even after the Italian Cycling Federation prohibited Ferrari from practicing cycling medicine, Italian officials indicated that Armstrong met with him as late as 2010 outside of Italy. According to Cycling News, the USADA report disclosed Ferrari’s close involvement in Armstrong’s Tour de France victories, revealing payments exceeding $1 million from 1996 through 2006—contradicting Armstrong’s statement that their relationship ended in 2004. The report also contained eyewitness testimony describing Ferrari administering multiple injections of EPO to Armstrong.
L.A. Confidentiel: 2004
In 2004, journalists Pierre Ballester and David Walsh released L.A. Confidentiel, which accused Armstrong of using performance-enhancing substances. Former cyclist Steve Swart claimed that he and others began doping in 1995 while on the Motorola team, although other teammates denied these allegations.
The book featured accusations from Armstrong’s former assistant Emma O'Reilly, who stated that a backdated cortisone prescription was fabricated in 1999 to conceal a positive corticosteroid test during the Tour de France. O'Reilly recounted how team officials panicked over the test results and secured a pre-dated prescription for a steroid ointment intended for saddle sores, which she would have administered if it had been legitimate. Additionally, O'Reilly alleged that Armstrong instructed her to dispose of syringes and manage suspicious packages.
These claims were republished by The Sunday Times (UK) in June 2004, prompting Armstrong to file a libel lawsuit; the newspaper settled after a judge determined the article suggested guilt rather than mere suspicion. The publication issued an apology for any such implication. Subsequently, Ballester and Walsh continued publishing works reinforcing allegations that Armstrong engaged in doping throughout his career.
In March 2005, Mike Anderson, Armstrong’s former personal assistant, submitted a brief alleging discovery of 'androstenin'—a substance not banned—in Armstrong’s Girona residence. Anderson lacked direct evidence of doping; Armstrong denied the allegations and filed a countersuit. Both parties reached an out-of-court settlement later that year under confidential terms.
In November 2012, Times Newspapers reissued Walsh’s articles along with the original "L.A. Confidentiel" piece in Lanced: The shaming of Lance Armstrong. The Times contemplated pursuing legal action to reclaim settlement funds and court expenses related to Armstrong.
In December 2012, The Sunday Times initiated a $1.5 million lawsuit against Armstrong seeking reimbursement of the initial settlement plus accrued interest and legal fees. By August 2013, Armstrong and The Sunday Times agreed on an undisclosed settlement.
Tour de France urine analyses: 2005
On August 23, 2005, the French sports daily L'Équipe disclosed that six urine samples from the 1999 Tour de France, preserved at the French anti-doping facility LNDD, tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) during recent reexaminations intended to enhance EPO detection techniques.
Armstrong addressed the claims on his official website, dismissing the report as "tabloid journalism," criticizing the scientific validity of the tests, and highlighting that he was denied a chance to respond. He maintained his firm denial of any performance-enhancing drug use.
In October 2005, prompted by appeals from the International Olympic Committee and WADA for an independent review, the UCI commissioned Dutch attorney Emile Vrijman to investigate LNDD's test procedures. Vrijman, previously head of the Dutch anti-doping agency and experienced athlete defense lawyer, exonerated Armstrong citing flawed testing protocols. The investigation labeled the tests as scientifically unreliable and considered it irresponsible to use them as proof.
The panel advised against any disciplinary measures based on LNDD’s findings and recommended that both WADA and LNDD undergo external scrutiny. Additionally, the IOC Ethics Commission reprimanded WADA President Dick Pound for public comments insinuating Armstrong’s guilt.
Anti-doping specialist Michael Ashenden pointed out that LNDD lacked access to athlete identities corresponding to sample codes; only the UCI possessed that information. He explained two scenarios for detecting synthetic EPO: either Armstrong used it or the samples were tampered with by the laboratory—an extraordinary allegation unsupported by any evidence, even during historically politicized periods.
SCA Promotions litigation: 2005–2015
In June 2006, a French newspaper revealed that Betsy and Frankie Andreu testified Armstrong confessed to using performance-enhancing substances to his doctor following brain surgery in 1996. This arose amid litigation between Armstrong and SCA Promotions, a Texas-based company withholding a $5 million bonus; the dispute resolved out of court with SCA paying Armstrong and Tailwind Sports $7.5 million, covering the bonus plus accrued interest and legal costs. The testimony alleged Armstrong admitted using growth hormone, cortisone, EPO, steroids, and testosterone.
Armstrong countered that Betsy Andreu confused post-surgery treatments—which involved steroids and EPO administered to mitigate chemotherapy side effects. No additional witnesses, including Armstrong’s physician Craig Nichols, corroborated this claim. Greg LeMond referenced a discussion with Stephanie McIlvain (Armstrong’s Oakley representative), who purportedly confirmed overhearing such an admission; however, McIlvain denied this under oath.
In July 2006, the Los Angeles Times spotlighted evidence from the SCA case, featuring LNDD test data analyzed by expert Michael Ashenden, who testified that Armstrong’s variable levels suggested EPO use during the 1999 Tour. Ashenden’s conclusions were challenged by the Vrijman report due to procedural deficiencies. The article also cited testimonies from Armstrong’s ex-teammate Swart, Andreu and his wife Betsy, alongside instant messages exchanged between Andreu and Jonathan Vaughters concerning blood doping. Vaughters denied firsthand knowledge of doping within Armstrong’s Discovery team; Andreu confirmed those conversations took place as documented.
The SCA case concluded without a formal judgment; Armstrong asserted this outcome validated his claims of innocence. The Los Angeles Times observed that evidence included contradictory statements and hearsay admissible in arbitration but questionable in traditional legal proceedings.
Following USADA's October 2012 report, SCA Promotions sought repayment of over $7 million disbursed to Armstrong. Armstrong’s attorney Tim Herman argued that the settlement barred further claims. SCA representative Jeff Dorough indicated a formal demand for $12 million was issued in October 2012; Armstrong’s side reportedly proposed a $1 million settlement.
On February 4, 2015, an arbitration panel ruled 2–1 in favor of SCA, ordering Armstrong and Tailwind Sports to reimburse $10 million. The Texas court was expected to ratify this decision. Panel members Richard Faulkner and Richard Chernick supported SCA; Ted Lyon dissented. Armstrong’s counsel criticized the ruling as inconsistent with Texas law. The panel condemned Armstrong’s behavior as "the most devious sustained deception ever perpetrated in world sporting history."
On September 27, 2015, Armstrong and SCA reached a settlement agreement; Armstrong issued a public apology and consented to pay an undisclosed amount.
Federal inquiry: 2010–2012
In May 2010, Floyd Landis confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs and implicated Armstrong along with others. This revelation triggered a federal probe by the U.S. Justice Department into Armstrong and the U.S. Postal Service Cycling Team, with involvement from the Food and Drug Administration and federal investigator Jeff Novitzky. In June 2010, Armstrong engaged a criminal defense lawyer as part of the ongoing investigation.
By February 3, 2012, federal prosecutors concluded the criminal inquiry without pressing any charges. U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. announced the closure of the case without further details, while agent Novitzky declined to provide comments.
Following Armstrong’s public admission of doping in February 2013, the Justice Department joined Floyd Landis' whistleblower lawsuit aimed at recovering government funds that had been awarded to Armstrong’s cycling team.
USADA probe and partial admission: 2011–2013
In June 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) formally accused Armstrong of doping and drug trafficking, based on blood test evidence from 2009 and 2010 combined with testimonies from former teammates. Additional allegations included coercing teammates into using banned performance-enhancing substances. By October 2012, USADA charged Armstrong with orchestrating a widespread doping scheme and sought a lifetime ban from all sports governed by WADA. Armstrong opted not to appeal these charges, citing the impact on his family.
As a result, he was stripped of all competitive results starting from August 1998, including his seven Tour de France victories, and received a lifetime prohibition from sports adhering to the World Anti-Doping Code. Since most cycling federations, including the UCI, follow this code, his professional cycling career effectively ended. The UCI upheld USADA’s decision and chose not to reassign Armstrong’s vacated titles due to widespread doping suspicions among top cyclists during that period.
In January 2013, Armstrong made a limited confession during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, admitting to doping but denying use during 2009–2010 and asserting his last doping offense occurred in 2005. He also refuted claims that he pressured teammates into doping. Later that year in September, UCI president Brian Cookson invited Armstrong to provide testimony regarding doping practices; however, Armstrong declined without assurances of amnesty, which Cookson considered improbable.
Following USADA’s report, Armstrong lost all sponsorships almost immediately, reportedly forfeiting approximately $75 million in endorsement revenue in a single day. On May 28, 2013, Nike officially ended its association with Livestrong. CNN characterized Armstrong's fall from grace as one of the most significant scandals in professional sports history. In a 2015 interview with BBC News, Armstrong remarked that if it were still 1995, he would "probably do it again."
Whistleblower litigation: 2010–2018
In 2010, Floyd Landis, a former teammate whose 2006 Tour de France victory was annulled due to doping violations, sent communications to cycling authorities and sponsors confessing to widespread doping practices and implicating others, including Armstrong.
Landis initiated a federal whistleblower lawsuit against Armstrong under the False Claims Act, accusing him of defrauding the US government by receiving funds from the US Postal Service. Originally filed confidentially, the lawsuit became public knowledge through The Wall Street Journal in 2010. By January 2013, the US Justice Department recommended intervening in the case to reclaim government funds.
The Department of Justice formally joined the lawsuit in February 2013, additionally charging former USPS team director Johan Bruyneel and Tailwind Sports with fraudulent activities.
Court filings in April 2014 disclosed Armstrong’s sworn admission to obtaining doping substances from key individuals through 2005 and identified couriers and associates aware of his doping regimen. Shortly thereafter, USADA imposed a ten-year ban on Bruyneel and eight-year bans on others involved.
In June 2014, a federal judge rejected Armstrong's request to dismiss the government’s lawsuit on statute of limitations grounds.
By February 2017, the court permitted the $100 million civil claim against Armstrong to advance toward trial. The litigation concluded in April 2018 with Armstrong agreeing to a $5 million settlement. Documents revealed that from 2001 to 2004, USPS had paid $31 million in sponsorship deals to Armstrong and Tailwind Sports. The Justice Department alleged breaches of contract and fraud related to Armstrong’s denial of doping. Landis reportedly received $1.1 million for his role as whistleblower.
Additional legal actions: 2010 onward
In November 2013, Armstrong reached a settlement with Acceptance Insurance Company (AIC), which sought recovery of $3 million paid as bonuses for his Tour de France victories between 1999 and 2001. The matter was resolved for an undisclosed sum one day before Armstrong’s scheduled deposition.
Personal life
Armstrong possesses residences in Austin, Texas, Aspen, Colorado, as well as a ranch located in the Texas Hill Country.
Family and relationships
Armstrong wed Kristin Richard in 1998; the couple had three children—a son born in 1999 and twin daughters born in 2001—conceived using sperm preserved prior to his cancer treatment. They divorced in 2003.
That same year, Armstrong began a relationship with singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. They announced their engagement in 2005 but ended their relationship in early 2006.
In 2008, Armstrong entered into a partnership with Anna Hansen, whom he met through charitable activities. Contrary to expectations that chemotherapy had rendered him infertile, their first child was conceived naturally. Together they have two children: a son born in 2009 and a daughter born in 2010. Armstrong and Hansen were married on August 9, 2022.
Political involvement
Teammate George Hincapie once speculated that Armstrong might pursue the office of Governor of Texas after his cycling career. In 2005, Armstrong hinted at a potential gubernatorial bid at some point in the future but not imminently. Both Armstrong and former president George W. Bush, Republicans from Texas, share a friendship; Bush congratulated Armstrong following his 2005 Tour de France victory and invited him to his ranch for mountain biking.
In an August 2005 interview with PBS, Armstrong reconsidered political ambitions, noting that running for governor would require dedication comparable to professional cycling and involve significant stress and time away from family. He remarked:
In 2007, Armstrong partnered with former president George H. W. Bush on a YouTube campaign backing Proposition 15—a $3 billion taxpayer bond measure aimed at creating the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
Armstrong also co-chaired the campaign committee for California’s Cancer Research Act, a ballot initiative defeated in 2012 that sought to raise over $500 million annually through a tobacco tax dedicated to cancer research and prevention efforts.
He publicly supported Democratic Congressman Beto O'Rourke over Republican Senator Ted Cruz during the 2018 Texas Senate election.
Outside cycling
In 1997, Armstrong established the Lance Armstrong Foundation, dedicated to aiding individuals impacted by cancer. This organization has generated more than $325 million through the sale of yellow Livestrong bracelets. Following his initial retirement after the 2005 season, Armstrong explored various pursuits, including acting as the pace car driver for the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 during the 2006 Indianapolis 500. In 2007, he co-launched Athletes for Hope alongside prominent sports figures such as Andre Agassi and Muhammad Ali, a nonprofit aimed at motivating athletes to engage in charitable and community initiatives.
Armstrong was the headline rider for the first-ever "Pelotonia" charity event in August 2009 in Columbus, Ohio, where he cycled over 100 miles and contributed to raising millions for cancer research. He also completed the New York City Marathon in both 2006 and 2007, finishing each race in under three hours while generating $600,000 for LiveStrong. In 2008, Armstrong ran the Boston Marathon in less than three hours, placing within the top 500 finishers.
Returning to triathlon competition in 2011, Armstrong participated in the XTERRA off-road Triathlon series, briefly leading before a crash relegated him to 23rd place. In 2012, he attempted to qualify for the Ironman World Championship and intended to compete at Ironman France; however, his suspension by USADA and ban by WADA prevented him from entering Ironman events due to regulations enforced by the World Triathlon Corporation.
Additionally, Armstrong took part in the non-competitive Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa during July of both 2011 and 2013.
Business and investments
Beyond his cycling career, Armstrong is an entrepreneur and investor. He owns "Juan Pelota Cafe" located in downtown Austin, Texas—a name symbolizing his battle with testicular cancer—and runs the adjacent bike shop "Mellow Johnny's," named after his Tour de France nickname derived from the French term for the yellow jersey.
In 2001, Armstrong provided funding for Wonders & Worries, an Austin-based nonprofit offering counseling services to children with seriously ill parents.
Nike introduced a cycling apparel line called 10//2, named after Armstrong’s cancer diagnosis date (October 2, 1996). In 2008, he acquired several million dollars worth of shares in SRAM Corporation, a U.S. manufacturer of bicycle components, where he also served as a technical advisor until SRAM bought back those shares prior to its public offering. Armstrong additionally maintains a minor ownership interest in Trek Bicycle Corporation.
In 2009, he invested $100,000 into Lowercase Capital, a venture capital firm that secured early stakes in companies like Uber. Uber’s initial public offering in 2019 valued at $82 billion yielded Armstrong an estimated $20–30 million from this investment—a financial success he credits with securing his family’s economic future.
Media
Armstrong debuted the podcast The Move in 2017, providing daily updates on the Tour de France during its 2018 and 2019 editions. He also made unpaid appearances on NBC Sports Network’s live Tour de France coverage. The UCI confirmed these media engagements did not breach his suspension terms.
Road
- 1990
- Placed eighth overall at the Tour of Sweden
- 1991
- Won first place in the Road race at the National Junior Road Championships
- 1992
- Captured overall victory at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic
- Secured Stage 2 win
- Triumphed at First Union Grand Prix
- Won Stage 6 of Settimana Bergamasca
- Claimed Stage 4a at Vuelta a Galicia
- Victorious in Stage 2 of Trittico Premondiale
- Runner-up at Züri-Metzgete
- Finished eighth at Coppa Bernocchi
- 1993
- Crowned champion in the Road race at the 1993 UCI Road World Championships
- First place in Road race at National Road Championships
- Topped overall standings at Kmart West Virginia Classic
- Won Prologue and Stage 1
- Overall winner of Tour of America
- Winner of Trofeo Laigueglia
- Victorious at Thrift Drug Classic
- Claimed Stage 8 of Tour de France
- Second overall at Tour DuPont
- Stage 5 winner
- Third overall at Tour of Sweden
- Won Stage 3
- Fifth place at Wincanton Classic
- Ninth overall at Paris–Nice
- 1994
- Won Thrift Drug Classic
- Second overall at Tour DuPont
- Captured Stage 7
- Runner-up at Liège–Bastogne–Liège
- Second place at Clásica de San Sebastián
- Seventh overall at Tour de Suisse
- Seventh place in Road race at UCI Road World Championships
- Ninth place finishes at both Trofeo Laigueglia and Züri-Metzgete
- 1995
- Overall winner of Tour DuPont
- Claimed Mountains classification title
- Victorious in Stages 4, 5 (ITT), and 9
- Topped overall standings at Kmart West Virginia Classic
- Stage 4 winner
- Winner of Clásica de San Sebastián
- Captured Stage 18 of Tour de France
- Won Stage 5 of Paris–Nice
- Fifth place in National Road Race Championships
- Sixth place at Liège–Bastogne–Liège
- Tenth overall in Vuelta a Burgos
- Tenth at Züri-Metzgete
- 1996
- Took overall victory at Tour DuPont
- Won Stages 2, 3b (ITT), 5, 6 &12 (ITT)
- Winner of La Flèche Wallonne
- Runners-up positions overall at both Paris–Nice and Ronde van Nederland
- Second place finishes at Liège–Bastogne–Liège and Grand Prix Eddy Merckx
- Forth overall ranking at Tour de Suisse
- Forth place finish at Wincanton Classic
- 1998
- Took first overall in both Tour de Luxembourg
- Including Stage 1 win
- Overall victor of Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt
- Took first place at Cascade Cycling Classic
Fourth overall finish at Vuelta a EspañaFourth place in Road race at UCI Road World Championships- 1999-2005 (results annulled)
Timeline of Grand Tour Overall Classification Results
| Grand Tour | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giro d'Italia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tour de France | DNF | DNF | 36 | DNF | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| / Vuelta a España | — | — | — | — | (background:#dddff;) |
| — | - ! scope= " row " | DNF | - ! scope= " row " | |
}
Triathlon and Ironman Achievements
Mountain Biking
Filmography
Honors and Awards
Awards Withdrawn
See alsoNotes and references
Bibliography
Further reading
External links |
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