This is the last time Lance Armstrong will hear the Star Spangled Banner played in his honor as winner of the Tour de France. |
For the last time, on the podium against the backdrop of the Arc de Triomphe, the cancer survivor who became the greatest cyclist in Tour de France history slipped into the leader's yellow jersey Sunday. This time, it was the winner's jersey, for an unprecedented seventh consecutive year in the world's most grueling race.
"Vive le Tour! Forever," Armstrong said.
It is the end of Armstrong's amazing career, and in retiring a winner he achieved what he set out to do this year...going out on top. He said his decision was final and that he retires with no regrets.
"I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. But this is a hell of a race," Armstrong said to the folks that don't believe cycling is a sport. "You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets -- this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it."
The race winner was announced with 30 miles left in the race as the pavement was slippery from the rain and Armstrong was comfortably ahead.
With one hand on his handlebars, the other holding a glass of champagne, Armstrong toasted his teammates as he cycled into Paris to claim his crown.
He had just rode 2,232.7 miles across France and its mountains for three weeks, and could still could smile at the end.
Sources say that President Bush called to congratulate his fellow Texan saying the victory was "a testament not only to your athletic talent, but to your courage."
Armstrong choked up on the podium with his rock star girlfriend Sheryl Crow as she cried during the ceremony.
Informed sources say Crow said "This is the way he wanted to finish his career, so it's very emotional,"
Armstrong set the record last year with his sixth win -- one more than Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, Belgian Eddy Merckx and Spaniard Miguel Indurain -- and No. 7 confirmed him as one of the greatest cyclists ever.
