Updated July 24, 2024 at 11:15 a.m.
Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France for the 7th consecutive time on this day in 2005 and announced his retirement from professional cycling. He initially returned to the sport in 2009 but failed to replicate his previous success. In 2011, he retired for the second time, marking the end of his professional cycling career.
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Armstrong was later stripped of his Tour de France titles and banned from professional cycling after the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) concluded that he had used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.
Who is Lance Armstrong?
Lance Armstrong is a disgraced former professional cyclist from the United States. He gained international fame for his remarkable success in the sport, particularly for winning the Tour de France seven times consecutively from 1999 to 2005.
What made Lance Armstrong's victories so remarkable?
Firstly, the Tour de France is widely regarded as the most prestigious and challenging cycling race in the world. Winning it requires exceptional endurance, skill, and strategic planning. Additionally, Armstrong's victories came after he successfully battled testicular cancer, making his achievements even more inspiring.
Why was Lance Armstrong so controversial?
Lance Armstrong's career was marred by controversies related to doping. Despite repeatedly denying the allegations, Armstrong was stripped of his Tour de France titles and banned from professional cycling after the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) concluded that he had used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.