Lance ArmstrongFormer road world cycling champion Lance Armstrong, who has been battling cancer for several months, said on Saturday he would be happy to become an also ran if he could just resume competitive riding.``In the past, I would never have accepted being an average cyclist. Now I know I could have fun just being an also ran in the bunch,'' the American told a press conference ahead of Sunday's Paris-Roubaix World Cup classic. The 25-year-old Texan, who discovered he had cancer of the abdomen and testicles after the Atlanta Olympics, said he would probably not be able to resume competitive cycling this season. ``Doctors asked me to take it slowly. I hope to be able to be back quickly but it will be very difficult this year,'' said Armstrong. ``But I must be ready to accept the idea that I may never be the same again.'' EDS TRACK CUP 1997, Round 2, April 11-13, Alkek Velodrome, Houston, TexasFrom Frank Stanley, USCF Communications ManagerFor Immediate Release, April 11, 1997 Contact: Frank Stanley, USCF Communications Manager, (713) 558-5580 HOUSTON, Texas - Proving retirement is only temporary, Jill Gianettoni returned to top the field in the women's 500 meters Friday in the first final at the second round of the EDS Track Cup '97 at Alkek Velodrome. Gianettoni (Xerox-Topaz), of Cupertino, Calif., who holds the national record in the event, had retired to concentrate on coaching and her business -- marketing a track cycling tool kit. Instead, she changed her mind after seeing the competition at the opening round of the EDS Track Cup '97 last month in San Diego, Calif. "I thought, 'This looks like too much fun,'" she said. "I wasn't really even training. I'd been going on noon-time rides, but since I was coaching, I was on the track once every other week or once a week. I think I still have some conditioning from last year." Gianettoni won with a time of 38.239 seconds, over one-half second faster than runner-up Nicole Reinhart (Cox Atlanta Velo), Macungie, Pa., who won the 500 meters in San Diego. Six-time individual pursuit world champion Rebecca Twigg of Colorado Springs, Colo., competed for the first time since the 1996 Olympic Games. She finished seventh with a time of 39.802 seconds in her debut for Team EDS."It's only April, but it would be great to put in a good showing for EDS," said Twigg, who competed on a sprint bike for the first time in at least a decade. She said her training has been limited due to her school work. "I don't even consider myself to be really racing until I'm done with school (in mid-May)," she said. Twigg will compete in her specialty, the 3,000-meter individual pursuit, on Sunday. In other action, Marty Nothstein (Team EDS), Trexlertown, Pa., led his teammates to the top three spots in qualifying for the men's match sprint. Nothstein, the Olympic and world silver medalist in the event, qualified first with a 200-meter time of 10.925 seconds, an EDS Track Cup record. He easily moved through the first round of sprint action. The event concludes Saturday night. The EDS Track Cup '97 is a seven-event national series designed to enhance track cycling in the United States. The Alkek Velodrome event concludes Sunday night. Results - Friday, April 11 Women's 500 Meters 1. JILL GIANETTONI (Xerox-Topaz), Cupertino, Calif. 38.239 secs 2. Nicole Reinhart (Cox Atlanta Velo), Macungie, Pa. 38.766 3. Missy Thompson (PowerBar), Colorado Springs, Colo. 38.768 4. Ryan Kelly (Freewheel), Colorado Springs, Colo. 39.607 5. Tanya Lindenmuth (FCCC), Bethlehem, Pa. 39.651 6. Jennifer Evans (Team EDS), Dallas, Texas 39.712 7. Rebecca Twigg (Team EDS), Colorado Springs, Colo. 39.802 8. Jennie Reed (Gregg's-Specialized), Issaquah, Wash. 39.924 Upcoming Finals |