# Who (or what) is Lance Armstrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891 "2003-11-01T21:21:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/1 "2003-11-01T21:21:19Z")
Is he from Earth? šŸ˜‰ Iā€™ve only seen him on those car commercials, drug company commercials, and in passing in interviews. so I donā€™t know much about him, but heā€™s the toughest looking person Iā€™ve ever seen. On tv, that is. Is there a good biography anybody can reccommend? Or do any of you know him personally? I should add that Iā€™m not really a sports fan. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/2 "2003-11-01T21:28:24Z")
He trained in Santa Barbara for years and I know a couple of people who know him well. Iā€™ve never met him though. Heā€™s said to be a nice but serious guy. His autobiography written after his first win is excellent. [Link](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0425179613/qid=1067722765/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/103-6493963-2412632?v=glance&s=books) Haj ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/3 "2003-11-01T23:44:10Z")
Basically, heā€™s the Michael Jordan of cycling. And thatā€™s after battling testicular cancer and having a testicle removed. If cycling was as popular as basketball, you wouldnā€™t need to ask, even if you donā€™t follow sportsā€¦ heā€™s that good. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/4 "2003-11-02T00:27:14Z")
Theyā€™re pulling your leg, man. Heā€™s Neil Armstrongā€™s cousin, and CIO of Citicorp. ---
**Author:** ![elephant\_shoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@elephant\_shoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elephant_shoes)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/5 "2003-11-02T01:05:09Z")
Laaance. Lance is the man. I would recommend reading **Itā€™s Not About The Bike** for some good background. His newest book **Every Second Counts** is also good, but youā€™ll want to read INATB first. Itā€™s a fast, fascinating read, whether youā€™re into European road cycling, or not. Itā€™ll give you a high-level description of what it is to be a competitive road cyclist, and how it is to race. He also talks in depth about his struggles growing up in Texas with a single mother, and overcame all kinds of adversity. Itā€™ll make you want to do something with your life, if you havenā€™t already. Indeed, Lance overcame testicular cancer, but that barely begins to describe his battle with the disease. The tumors had spread all through his lungs, as well as into his brain. His prognosis was very poor, and had a very small chance of survival. He then came back from the brink of death, only to improve his cycling form, and win 5 Tours de France in a row. This is an amazing feat, only matched by one other rider in the raceā€™s 100 year history. It helps to understand what the TdF is to understand how incredible this is. Iā€™m guessing that if you donā€™t know Armstrong, you donā€™t realize that the TdF is a 21 day stage race, over 3000km long, through both flat terrain, and mountain stages. No other cancer survivor has ever won the Tour, either. Heā€™s history in the making. Lance has also gone on to be a great champion for cancer survivorship. He founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which raises money for research and support, and hosts a charity ride every year. He is a member of GW Bushā€™s cancer advisory panel, and takes his duty as a cancer survivor very seriously. Heā€™s an outstanding athlete, and a passionate man, who refuses to waste a moment of his life. Go ahead. Ask me more. I could talk all night. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/6 "2003-11-02T01:12:27Z")
Whew! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/7 "2003-11-02T01:17:21Z")
Lance is so good that all the other racers are planning to get a testicle removedā€¦even the women! ---
**Author:** ![elephant\_shoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@elephant\_shoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elephant_shoes)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/8 "2003-11-02T02:55:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BrotherCadfael \* > \*\*Lance is so good that all the other racers are planning to get a testicle removedā€¦even the women! \*\* Thatā€™s true. šŸ˜‰ Robin Williams is a friend of Lanceā€™s. Sometimes, he calls him the uniballer. So funny. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/9 "2003-11-02T03:36:16Z")
You can always check out [http://lancearmstrong.com/](http://lancearmstrong.com/) for more infomation. ---
**Author:** ![Lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lola)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/10 "2003-11-02T03:37:08Z")
Lance Armstrong is an absolute inspiration, and, by all accounts, a decent bloke. He ainā€™t Miguel Indurain, though. Now THATā€™S a cyclist. ---
**Author:** ![Lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lola)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/11 "2003-11-02T03:42:44Z")
Incidentally, \*\* elephant shoes \*\*, Iā€™m sure a couple of other riders have won the tour five times (Indurain and Eddy Mercx amongst them, Iā€™m sure), but Iā€™m too damn lazy to find out. If Armstrong wins it a SIXTH time, heā€™ll be in a league of his own. But given that the Tour is all that he and his team train for (or am I mistaken?), Iā€™d be amazed if he didnā€™t win it again. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/12 "2003-11-02T03:43:04Z")
If you want to see a mean looking Lance, heā€™s [here](http://grahamwatson.safeshopper.com/71/296.htm?756) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/13 "2003-11-02T04:06:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tapioca Dextrin \* > \*\*If you want to see a mean looking Lance, heā€™s [here](http://grahamwatson.safeshopper.com/71/296.htm?756) \*\* Yikes. Do his arms have bones and muscles in them, or are they just solid tendon? ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/14 "2003-11-02T14:01:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lola \* > \*\*Incidentally, \*\* elephant shoes \*\*, Iā€™m sure a couple of other riders have won the tour five times (Indurain and Eddy Mercx amongst them, Iā€™m sure), but Iā€™m too damn lazy to find out. \*\* **Lola,** I think **elephant shoes** was talking about consecutive wins not overall wins. I could be wrong though. ---
**Author:** ![Lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lola)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/15 "2003-11-02T14:53:36Z")
**Grace** , youā€™re absolutley correct. I am a fool and a bad man. ---
**Author:** ![Lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lola)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/16 "2003-11-02T14:55:27Z")
And I canā€™t spell ā€œabsolutelyā€. Am now off to shoot myself, though Iā€™ll probably bollocks (sorry Lance) that up also. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/17 "2003-11-02T17:49:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dutchboy208 \* > \*\*Theyā€™re pulling your leg, man. > > Heā€™s Neil Armstrongā€™s cousin, and CIO of Citicorp. \*\* Not to mention the illegitimate son of [Stretch Armstrong](http://www.bigredtoybox.com/articles/stretchindex.shtml). ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/18 "2003-11-02T19:02:12Z")
For the record, five riders have won five Tours: Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and Lance Armstrong. Only Indurain and Armstrong have won five consecutive races. [Hereā€™s a chronological list of winners](http://olympia.fortunecity.com/zatopek/91/tourdefrance.html). Although immediately after this yearā€™s race, many people tipped Armstrong to win his sixth next year, [the route for the 2004 Tour](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/3207873.stm) will make it especially hard. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/19 "2003-11-02T20:26:51Z")
He also may be the boyfriend of Sandra Bullock, if certain scandal sheets are to be believed. ---
**Author:** ![elephant\_shoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@elephant\_shoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elephant_shoes)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891/20 "2003-11-02T20:35:37Z")
Thanks for clearing that up, **Everton**. I was, indeed, talking about 5 consecutive wins. Which only Miguel Indurain and Armstrong have achieved. I certainly didnā€™t intend to take anything away from Anquetil, Hinault or - the ultimate cyclist, Eddy Merckx. I was trying to make it easy for **mangeorge**. Lance has denied the rumours about Sandra Bullock, but Iā€™m not so sure. Weā€™ll see. Heā€™s got a divorce, his children, and NUMBER SIX to worry about. Who needs a new girlfriend, with so many other things to contend with? And besides, he said heā€™d wait for ME. šŸ˜‰ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-or-what-is-lance-armstrong/210891.md?page=2)