News for April 18, 1997

Lance at the Wallone Arrow

It was his last major victory, and Armstrong says he won't be competing in any big races this year. He just hopes he has won his biggest battle _ against cancer.

``At this time last year, I was in a state of grace,'' the Belgian classic. ``Today, I'm alive. It's a victory in itself.''

With Greg LeMond, Armstrong is the only American to have reached the pinnacle of world cycling. And like LeMond, tragedy struck in mid-career.

LeMond was shot in a hunting accident in 1987 but came back to win a third Tour de France.

Amstrong, the 1993 world road race champion and winner of two stages of the Tour de France, can only dream of such a comeback. After he was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain last fall, he underwent chemotherapy and had a brain operation.

In January, Armstrong was hopeful he could return by mid-season, but his bald head and deep scars on his skull belied the ambition of a quick return.

``I was sick then and noticed people were looking strangely at me,'' he said in interviews with several Belgian papers ahead of Wednesday's Walloon Arrow.

Yet, at the same time, the predictions on his return are much more careful. He has no specific timetable for his comeback.

``My doctors advised me to take my time,'' he said. ``I don't know whether I'll come back this year. At the same time, I have no idea whether I will regain my old form again.''

After signing a big contract with France's Codifis, reportedly for more than dlrs 1 million, he has had to renegotiate his contract with a smaller salary and a number of performance bonuses, based on when he returns to cycling.

But on doctor's orders, any return will not include major races this season.

``If I will compete, it will be in easy races,'' he said.

Armstrong always thrived in the rolling hills of the Ardennes of southern Belgium and won the Walloon Arrow on power, shaking off his last challenger on the steep final climb to the finish.

Organizers asked him to officially open this year's race, capping a sentimental two weeks traveling to some of the major spring classics like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

More Paris-Roubaix Debate

Concerning Frederic Guesdon: I also don't agree with Trevor Warwick. The best reply to him is Johan Museeuw's answer in an interview as also mentioned in Rogers report. He states it's normal that me and Soerensen as favorites have more work to do than the others and Guesdon beloning to our group means, that he was strong.

To mention also, that Guesdon punctures twice and it was hard work to join the head of the race. By the way Guesdon did never win the PARIS- ROUBAIX Amateur Race. He was second in 94, which was apparently enough to get the necessary experience. In addition he was super motivated by his team director Marc Madiot former doublewinner of PARIS - ROUBAIX.

Museeuw was again very strong but really out of luck. He is indeed a great worldchampion while racing, but also in his behaviour (reaction to the incident with Bruno Boscardin in the Tour de Flandres and in the interview concerning Guesdon).

Riis to miss Veenendaal-Veenendal

Tonkov Update

Bud Light Criterium, April 12

PowerAde Road Race, April 13