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Lance Armstrong calls it a day

US cyclist Lance Armstrong grimaces on Monday while announcing his retirement from professional cycling after this year's Tour de France. PHOTO: EPA

Six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong announced on Monday that he plans to retire from cycling after seeking a seventh consecutive victory along the French roadways next July.

"The Tour de France will be my last as a professional cyclist," Armstrong said.

"It will be the last one, win or lose. Having said that, I'm fully committed to winning a seventh title," he said.

The 33-year-old American overcame life-threatening cancer to become the greatest champion in cycling's most famous race but has often said he wants to spend more time with his children and his companion, pop singer Sheryl Crow.

"They are the ones who made it easier in the suffering, but they are also the ones who told me, `It's time to come home,'" Armstrong said of his children.

Armstrong's reasons for retiring came as no surprise to the head organizer of the Tour de France, Jean-Marie Leblanc.

"We thought he would retire. The fact he has to come over to Europe and leave his children behind doesn't surprise us that he has made this decision," Leblanc said.

Armstrong, defending his crown in the Tour of Georgia stage race that started yesterday, made his farewell revelation 3km from where golfer Tiger Woods signaled his return to form by winning the Masters eight days ago.

"I'm 100 percent committed, and the decision is final. The outlet for me will have to be via the team. I think we can develop another Tour de France winner," Armstrong said.

Armstrong was given only a 40 percent chance to survive in 1994 after doctors discovered he had brain, lung and testicular cancer but he beat those odds and went on to become a US sports celebrity and global cycling icon.

"Ultimately, athletes have to retire. My time has come. The body just doesn't keep going and going," Armstrong said.

However, Leblanc thought it was more the Texan losing his mental toughness than any physical decline.

"Maybe this weariness will affect his effectiveness in the Tour this year. It is neither a wish nor a hope of mine, simply my analysis," Leblanc said.

The inspiration Armstrong draws and gives cancer survivors is a factor for Armstrong.

"Certain times I have relied on a special force. To have them to fall back on, not only do they inspire me but I hope I can inspire them. I hope to give them one more Tour de France," he said.

The Texan's foundation raises money for cancer research and more than 40 million of his yellow wristbands have been sold. Sponsorship deals and book sales netted Armstrong more than US$19 million last year by some estimates.

But the heroics and fame have not come without controversy.

In 2003, Armstrong divorced wife Kristen, the mother of his twin daughters who had helped him thought his cancer fight, and began a relationship with Crow.

Armstrong has never failed a doping test, but he has been nagged by accusations of taking banned performance-enhancing substances throughout his years of success.

Armstrong's contract with new team sponsor Discovery Channel requires him to race in just one more Tour de France, with this week's 1,040km US race serving as a tuneup and the start of his farewell tour in a rare US appearance.

Armstrong, who turns 34 in September, retired from the Paris-Nice race after three stages with illness.

Other US riders are concerned that Armstrong's success has not inspired a new generation of American cyclists to fill his void.

"I don't see anyone. That's the problem. There's a big gap between us guys, 32-33-34 years old, and the growth we should see," Paris-Nice winner Bobby Julich said.
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