Portal:Texas/Selected Biography/20
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lance Armstrong (born Lance Edward Gunderson on September 18, 1971) is a retired American professional road racing cyclist. He is most famous for winning the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005. These record-breaking feats were accomplished several years after brain and testicular surgery, and extensive chemotherapy in 1996, to treat testicular cancer that had metastasized to his brain and lungs. Armstrong's domination at the event had prompted many Americans to nickname the race the "Tour de Lance".
In 2002, Sports Illustrated magazine named him Sportsman of the Year. Armstrong retired from racing on July 24, 2005, at the end of the 2005 Tour de France.