Lance Armstrong to ride for Astana

[Nick H.]

More here: Lance Armstrong confirms cycling comeback

Well, fuck my old boots.  

[andygates]

Sounds like he was getting itchy and soft and not enjoying retirement. 

[Adrian]

Sounds like he was getting itchy and soft and not enjoying retirement. 

And possibly looking at the last three year's results and thinking to himself, I could have won those.

[Von Broad]

Lance-haters, please form an orderly queue.   

I won't be standing in it that's for sure.

Wish his old mate was still there too though. I kind of liked him.

Amazing stuff.

[Adrian]

Wish his old mate was still there too though. I kind of liked him.

Along with the deeply flawed, but still much missed, third leg of that particular trinity

[Wascally Weasel]

See he's just like the rest of us when you get down to it.  His love life goes all fugazi and he says "Fuck it, I'll just ride my bike".

I'm really excited, hope it's true.  I'm no Lance hater but my one criticism of him was that he should have stayed on long enough to be eventually defeated.

I'll definitely try to get out to France for at least one stage.

[teethgrinder]

I won't be standing in it that's for sure.

Wish his old mate was still there too though. I kind of liked him.

Amazing stuff.

Maybe the lack of Ulrich helped him decide to make a comeback? If it wasn't for Lance, Ulrich would have most likely won a good few (more) TDFs.
I am surprised that he's returning, but strangely not that surprised. Not riding the Tour must have put a big hole in his life. He's a pretty dedicated chap to say the least.
I would have though that he'd have gone into mountain biking or another discipline of cycling rather than return to tour riding though.
I woudn't be too surprised if he took another victory. I don't think people like him ever lose it. It's what's in his head that matters now.

[Adrian]

 It's what's in his head that matters now.

That and the quality of the team around him, and whether or not the team is entirely focused on the yellow jersey. After all Ulrich could have been better served by not having to share his team with Eric Zabel and having on occasion to work for him.

[Jakob]

Well, I'll be damned...next Michael Schumacher will be making a come-back as well..
I can't quite figure out if he's doing it solely to publicize his cancer charity stuff or whether he's really really serious..

[GruB]

In some ways, cycling aside, that is why Lance is such hot property press wise.  Who aside from Lance actually knows what he is doing? 

I am no Lance hater either.  When I came back to cycling he was the man.  If he does well at 37 it will make me feel a helluva lot better when I ride my bike. 

We can but dream, especially on one's commute when it all gets a bit dull. 

[rogerzilla]

He says he gets out of bed a little slower than he used to.

Well I don't and I'm older than him 

[TheLurker]

I wondered if it was less about the TdF and more about winning other races. Giro, Vuelta and mebbe Spring Classics?

There were a lot of snide remarks made that he couldn't be compared to people (people!? Gods! ) like Merckx, Anquetil, Indurain et al because he only focused on the TdF and I can imagine he's the sort of bloke that'd want to prove he was comparable with riders from previous generations.

Of course it just could be that loves riding his bike in competition...

[Frenchie]

I was wrong. It's been confirmed on his website too; however it is NOT with Astana it seems. However no classic or other big tour in his program, unfortunately; so the same flaw will remain.

PS Bring Ulrich back. And yes, I don't like Lance... (nothing to do with the rider; much more the character!)

[nic]

Armstrong to ride for Rock Racing? 

[alchemy]

I'm not a fan of retired sports people making comebacks. So Lance will have a crack at another tour..............big deal. Seems like you can't keep a good ego down.

I hope he falls in a heap on his arse and ends up coming well outside of the top 20, although I suspect that if that looked like happening he'd have to retire because of a "gastric upset"  Great rider - pigs arse - he wouldn't even be in my top 20.

[Greenbank]

I can't quite figure out if he's doing it solely to publicize his cancer charity stuff or whether he's really really serious..

A quote from Lance in today's Times Article gives a pretty big clue:

I am happy to announce that, after talking with my children, my family and my closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling to raise awareness of the global cancer burden...

Looks like he could also be in for the Paris-Nice and Dauphiné-Libéré.

[Ian H]

Great rider - pigs arse - he wouldn't even be in my top 20.

You grumpy, miserable old sod. I agree with you.

[clarion]

I'm not a fan of retired sports people making comebacks. So Lance will have a crack at another tour..............big deal. Seems like you can't keep a good ego down.

I hope he falls in a heap on his arse and ends up coming well outside of the top 20, although I suspect that if that looked like happening he'd have to retire because of a "gastric upset"  Great rider - pigs arse - he wouldn't even be in my top 20.

+1

[Andydauddwr]

I'll stick my head out and admit to being a fan.  I hope he does it...

Bit worried it will be more like the LeMond comeback in Boardman's early days with Gan though.

AC

[blackpuddinonnabike]

Can't say I ever warmed to him as a person, but I'm not about to belittle his achievements. Yeah, so he concentrated on the Tour above all else, doesn't make him a bad rider.

[rogerzilla]

He's not a bad rider - just don't say he's as good as Merckx.

[clarion]

'Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy Eddy Merckx!'

[scampi]

A modern saying is that you should quit at the top and never go back. I'm absolutely staggered that he's coming back after seven straight wins. It will be very interesting if he does though...

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

..but he'll be up against Mark Cavendish next time, won't he?

[scampi]

I think the only sprint Mr. Armstrong will be likely to be contesting is one at a mountaintop finish ...