What Does 2010 Have in Store for Lance Armstrong?

  What Lance achieved in 2009 was extraordinary. Can you say ‘challenges’? The guy is in his late 30’s, in a sport that honors youth; three kids with an ex-wife; a current girlfriend; a recent (and welcome) surprise in the form of a fourth kid, Max, born in June; multiple homes; persistent badgering from the drug control barons, in spite of a solid history of testing clean; a badly broken collarbone, the worst of his career setbacks since his well-known illness; oh, did I mention having a global presence in the fight against cancer?

  Who among us could manage all of the above with the apparent grace and success that Lance has? And still make the Tour podium in Paris?

  Still, it’s not hard to believe that the 2010 season will be Lance’s last at the peak of professional sport. I think it should be. By the end of 2010, he will have arrived at the point all athletes reach, where they turn from their own pursuits to the development of a new generation. One of the beauties of cycling is that younger, less accomplished riders are mentored by the established stars who benefit from their efforts. I think the 2010 racing season will be the last in which we see Lance leading a group of younger riders through the joys and struggles of a pro season.

  We’ve already seen a seismic shift in the 2009 season. Didn’t it seem that the ’06, ‘07, and ’08 Tours were merely placeholders until Lance could come back? We had grown accustomed to his dominance; yet, when he first announced his intention to race again, even dreamers paused. His critics howled. In 2009, for the first time in recent memory, Lance was fighting for primacy on his team. His unexpected return was not greeted with deference. He had to prove himself, and the outcome was unclear all through the spring calendar. But after the Tour, did you notice that certain picture in the news of Contador and Armstrong on the podium?; it was taken at an angle, Contador all smiles, but Lance was eyeing the Tour trophy, jaw clenched like something had been stolen from him and he wanted it back. And he wanted it back now.

  Alberto Contador, in contrast, has all the advantages Lance had in roughly, say, 2001. An established champion, developed in all the disciplines required of Tour champions – race awareness, climbing, time trialing, etc. Plus, if the conventional wisdom is true, Alberto is coming into the prime years for a long-tour contender. At the beginning of the 2010 Tour de France, Contador will be 27 years old. How old was Lance when he won his first Tour in 1999? 27. Yeah, I know. And Contador already has 4 grand Tour victories under his belt.

  The off-season may be critical. Team chemistry is always difficult to judge, always fluid, and often fragile. How Contador will lead without the support of the kind of juggernaut team Lance can build will be unknown for some time. (Enter Bruyneel, stage left). Lance will again be in charge. Unpredictable events may force them to adjust to new realities. And Lance said after the Tour that Contador ‘has some things to learn’. Sorta brings to mind the old expression “things that make you go hmmm…”, doesn’t it? (I know you’re nodding in agreement.) 

What does this mean? It means we have much to look forward to….

Two great champions, both riveting to watch.

Excellence on display, inspiring all of us.

Indelible memories, both those we have and those yet to be formed.

And when the smoke clears next July, our first and last impulse should be to thank them for all they’ve given us.

Good luck, Lance – we believe, and we can’t wait.