FRANCE: LANCE ARMSTRONG SPEAKS ABOUT HIS FIFTH VICTORY INTHE TOUR DE FRANCE CYCLE RACE

Record ID: 647229

  • Title: FRANCE: LANCE ARMSTRONG SPEAKS ABOUT HIS FIFTH VICTORY INTHE TOUR DE FRANCE CYCLE RACE
  • Date: 27th July 2003
  • Summary: (S5 JULY 27) PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 27, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LANCE ARMSTRONG PUTS ON TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER'S YELLOW JERSEY (U4) PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 28, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 2. CANCER CONFERENCE 3. POSTER READS 'LIVING BEYOND CANCER: CELEBRATING LIFE' 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER LANCE ARMSTRONG SAYS: "I think the thing that strikes me about this room and about this event is that, especially in the day and age that we are living in now -- so much 'what does America think, what does France think, what does Germany think, what does Russia think?' -- this is not a national problem, this is a global problem and the resolution will be a global resolution. And to stand in a room with an international crowd and be in arguably the most beautiful city in the world is a tremendous honour. And it's an honour to win the Tour de France anyways, but it is a real honour to win the Tour de France as a cancer survivor." 5. PEOPLE AT CONFERENCE 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LANCE ARMSTRONG SAYS: "It's been a very difficult three weeks, of course, but somehow along the way you have these problems and you always look back to 1996 and you realise that a crash on Luz-Ardiden or a little cycle across into Gap is not nearly as bad as sitting in a hospital room in Indianapolis, Indiana. And so drawing on that experience helps and perhaps is one of the secrets to winning the Tour. But thank you for being here and thank you to my fellow cancer survivors for coming out. Thank you Dr von Eschenbach for having me and I hope everybody has a great day. Thank you." 7. PEOPLE APPLAUD ARMSTRONG (S5 JULY 27) PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 27, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 8. LANCE ARMSTRONG ON TOUR DE FRANCE PODIUM Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVA9CD5QD2WT97J0IVM222HALUPH
  • Story Text: Cycling star Lance Armstrong has been speaking about
    his fifth consecutive Tour de France win and his even more
    important victory over cancer.



    Armstrong joined a U.S. President's Cancer Panel
    meeting in Paris on Monday (July 28) -- the day after his
    latest win -- to increase awareness of cancer and encourage
    more people to talk about it.

    The Texan is a member of the panel and he said on Monday:
    "I think the thing that strikes me about this room and about
    this event is that, especially in the day and age that we are
    living in now -- so much 'what does America think, what does
    France think, what does Germany think, what does Russia
    think?' -- this is not a national problem, this is a global
    problem and the resolution will be a global resolution."
    He added: "...it's an honour to win the Tour de France
    anyways, but it is a real honour to win the Tour de France as
    a cancer survivor."
    The 31-year old cycling champion suffered from testicular
    cancer in 1996.

    As a member of the Cancer Panel, Armstrong represents both
    survivors and his own foundation helping sufferers.

    The foundation was created in 1997 and Armstrong hopes to
    extend its help from the United States to people everywhere.

    It helps people psychologically and socially as well as
    practically, providing resources, support and grants.

    Armstrong has said he would like to try for a sixth win in
    the Tour de France next year, but nothing beats beating
    cancer.

    "It's been a very difficult three weeks, of course, but
    somehow along the way you have these problems and you always
    look back to 1996 and you realise that a crash on Luz-Ardiden
    or a little cycle across into Gap is not nearly as bad as
    sitting in a hospital room in Indianapolis, Indiana.

    "...drawing on that experience helps and perhaps is one of
    the secrets to winning the Tour," he added.

    Armstrong's victory puts him in the elite group of
    five-times winners: France's Jacques
    Anquetil and Bernard Hinault; Belgian Eddy Merckx; and Spain's
    Miguel Indurain. But only Armstrong and Indurain won
    consecutivuie tours.


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