Armstrong Returns for Cancer - Landis Returns for Redemption

July 22nd, 2010 12:34pm

It reads like a movie script, I can hear the trailer now..."Lance is back. And this time, he has a cause"...." Lance Armstrong is...Lance Armstrong and he's got a peleton to grind." A carbon wheel weilding Armstrong is sweating and laughing maniacly as he sprints up the first uncategorized climb of the 2009 tour leaving carnage in his wake. And just when you think the race will be dominated like his previous seven tour victories, he is reeled in by Floyd Landis and the race is on, que the Chariots of Fire music....and you get the picture. Now there is ten more months of fodder for the media that will no doubt beat this story to death. But while these two past tour winners are coming back, their stories couldn't be more different.

Lance Armstrong has officially announced his return to the Professional cycling ranks for at least four races in 09. While rumors run rampant that Floyd Landis is returning he has yet to offically announce it. Lance is scheduled to hold a press conference on September 29th to announce the team he will ride for. Bicycle World has learned on good authority that a deal with Astana is already been done and it is just a matter of getting all the riders and parties involved on the same page. Bicycle World learned that Floyd on the other hand will be riding for the US Based Health Net Pro cycling team presented by Maxxis and not join former team mate Tyler Hamilton at Rock Racing. Armstrong has nothing to loose. Literally. If he wins the tour he gets publicity for his cause and makes millions on his Trek stock. If he looses, he gets publicity for his cause and he makes millions on Trek stock. Landis on the other hand has everything to loose. He has a family to feed, a reputation to rebuild and demons to exercise. Win and Floyd gets the opportunity to prove the system wrong. The system that took what should have been the best year of his life and brought it to a skidding halt. Loose and he will forever hear "I told you so".