He's gone but not forgotten. After winning an unprecedented seventh straight Tour de France title, Lance Armstrong can lay claim to the title of greatest Tour de France rider in the history of cycling. It's a title not likely to be challenged for many years, and Cyclingnews' European Editor, Tim Maloney, takes a look at what makes Armstrong great.
The fourth oldest Tour de France winner at 33 years and 10 months, Armstrong said in his final Tour de France press conference, 'It's nice to finish your career on a high note. As a sportsman, I wanted to go out on top. I have absolutely no regrets. I've had an unbelievable career. I've been blessed to ride 14 years as a professional...I've been blessed with financial rewards that I never thought would be possible. There's no reason to continue. I don't need more. It's time for a new face...(I have) no regrets."
Armstrong was born September 18, 1971 in Plano, Texas. As a youngster, he won the Iron Kids Triathlon at 13 and became a professional triathlete at only 16 years old. In 1988, Armstrong qualified to train with the US Olympic developmental team in Colorado Springs, Colorado and represented the USA at the Junior World Championships in Moscow in 1989. In 1990, he finished 11th in the World Championships in Japan. In 1991 Armstrong was the US National Amateur Champion on the Subaru-Montgomery team, winning the Settimana Bergamasca race in Italy for the US National team. and he remained an amateur competitor during the 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona.
