I like this image of Lance Armstrong leading the pack, at the Tour de France in 2004. This was one of his seven wins, at the Tour de France. This image speaks volumes about Lance's career. You can see all the sponsorships displayed on the different bright colored racing clothing. I believe that the huge dollar amounts that the sponsors provided, fueled Armstrong's drive to win in cycling. Lance is in front in this picture, where he shows a big smile; the group behind him is clearly racing against the huge pack, creating a swarm of competition behind Lance.
You can see the signature yellow "Live Strong" jersey that signifies Armstrong from the rest of the pack. Live Strong is the cancer foundation that Lance Armstrong founded after his battle with testicular cancer. He is on his one-of-a-kind bike in this picture, further signifying Lance from the other riders. This image really sums up his career for me: Lance Armstrong leading the pack of racers, at the Tour de France, in his yellow jersey.
Mark Memott, Patrick Kovarick. "If Lance Armstrong Is Stripped, No One May Get His Tour de France Titles". NPR October 12, 2012.Web. October 26 2012.
This is a common image of Lance Armstrong at the front of the pack in the yellow jersey, or as the French call it, the maillot jaune, which signifies that he is the current leader of the Tour. His Livestrong foundation no doubt took their color idea from his success in this race.
ReplyDeleteYour analysis brings up some good questions for me. First, he was the "leader of the pack" for a number of years, and he inspired a countless number of people with cancer and who are in remission that they could do anything. To me, this is the legacy that is most threatened by this latest round of doping accusations. Armstrong has already retired from the sport, so I wonder why the doping allegations have come now, and at what cost.
As you can tell, I'm a big fan of the sport, and this latest development is heartbreaking. But I also know that doping is rampant in cycling, and it seems to make headlines every year.
I'm not a cycling fan, and honestly I don't know a whole lot about it - but this whole scandalous doping accusation was heartbreaking to me too, just because Armstrong was always the athlete I thought of when I would try to conjure up images of "wholesome" or "clean". It seems that so many countless athletes in all sports have at one time been convicted of either doping, or some other questionable activity. My husband is a fan, has the yellow shirt, donated money for cancer through his foundation, etc...
ReplyDeleteHe's a runner not a cyclist, but he was pretty shocked at all of this too. I remember him saying the same thing: "I don't want to believe it, but so many people have evidence with not one defense."
I guess we all shall see.