An American in Paris, again?

Lance Armstrong has confirmed that 2006 will be his last season, but he still hasn’t said whether or not 2005 will see him compete in the Tour de France. Mixed messages from the six time winner say he will ride the tour again before he retires but will that be next year or the year after?

Armstrong has been criticised for concentrating on the Tour de France, but he has won one day races before and says that he’d like a crack at Flanders in the Spring. And look out Jan Ullrich as Armstrong seems pretty cool about the pressure to ride, which will mean, no doubt, he’ll be harder than ever to beat. He said:
“I feel better than I have at other December camps, I’ve got a clear head. I’m chilled out. I’m relaxed.”

Elsewhere at the Discovery team Roger Hammond sounds really focussed on 2005. Ready for the ‘Belgian fortnight’ next Spring. He can hardly wait. There’s a good interview with him on the Paceline website (the official Discovery channel team’s site)

Roger Hammond – UK National road champ and latest Discovery recruit – pic. (c) Gerard Brown