I know he has since been found guilty of lying and doping (they ALL do it in biking - except for LeMonds); but I just reread Lance Armstrong's book, "It's Not about
the Bike", again after about
15 years of my first reading.
I'd recommend this book to see how he fought through testicular cancer, which had spread to his brain, lungs and abdomen. His cancer treatments included brain and testicular surgery and extensive chemotherapy . He was given a 30-40% chance of survival. A couple of highlights:
- The French 'Tour De France' team he had just signed with a couple months before his diagnosis fired him while he was in the hospital. Remember, at the time he was diagnosed he was an "up and comer" and had only won some stages in the Tour.
- The owner of Oakley Sunglasses paid for all of Armstrong's treatments; even though most gave him a 0% chance of ever riding again. He advertised for Oakley for free after his return.
- The first time he rode his bike after his treatments, an old lady passed him on her single speed old school bike while they were going up a small hill in his neighborhood.
Treated in 1996-97, Armstrong recovered and went on to win the 1999 Tour De France, considered among the most grueling of competitions. He then won six more in a row.
Again, whatever you remember about the doping stuff this book is worth a couple of reads. My personal opinion is his biggest crime was the cover up and lying, because it's been documented that pretty much all of the top guys did the same. (I don't want to debate this because I was sick with him too until I got cancer...)
Dewayne