Lance Armstrong, who vehemently denied for over a decade that he doped or took drugs during cycling, apologized to the cancer foundation he started, LIVESTRONG, before meeting Oprah Winfrey in a hotel suite for an interview to admit that he doped during his cycling career.

The interview will air Thursday night on Oprah’s OWN channel.  The sky has been falling on Armstrong for weeks and he continued to deny doping but everyone was leaving his corner, especially in the wake of the USADA stripping him of his 7 Tour de France titles and banning him from competing for life.

Word leaked quickly out of the Oprah interview that Lance had confessed to his cycling sins and deceiving the American public. Oprah quickly came out (no, not for that) to confirm that Lance did in fact confess.

Speaking on “CBS This Morning,” Winfrey said Tuesday she had not planned to address Armstrong’s confession before the interview aired on her OWN network but, “by the time I left Austin and landed in Chicago, you all had already confirmed it.”

Armstrong had been relentless  in his attacks against the USADA for coming after him and eventually stripping his titles.

USADA chief executive Travis Tygart, a longtime critic of Armstrong’s, called the drug regimen practiced while Armstrong led the U.S. Postal Service team “the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.”

Lance not only denied doping for years but attacked and went after anyone that was anti-doping or for cleaning up cycling.

Decade of Denials from Lance Armstrong via Velo News

2001
“This is my body and I can do whatever I want to it. I can push it, and study it, tweak it, listen to it. Everybody wants to know what I’m on. What am I on? I’m on my bike, busting my ass six hours a day. What are you on?”
—Advertisement for Nike

July 2005
“I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the skeptics. I’m sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. I’m sorry you don’t believe in miracles. But this is one hell of a race. This is a great sporting event and you should stand around and believe it. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I’ll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets – this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it. Vive Le Tour.”
—After Armstrong’s seventh and final Tour de France victory

August 2005
“I have never doped, I can say it again, but I have said it for seven years — it doesn’t help.”
—On CNN’s “Larry King Live” after French newspaper L’Equipe reported tests on urine samples taken from Armstrong during the 1999 Tour and frozen were positive for blood-boosting erythropoietin (EPO)

2005
“… the faith of all the cancer survivors and almost everything I do off of the bike would go away too. Don’t think for a second I don’t understand that.”
—In testimony under oath during legal proceedings involving SCA Promotions over a bonus payment for a Tour de France victory

2007
“I was on my deathbed. You think I’m going to come back into a sport and say, ‘OK, OK doctor give me everything you got, I just want to go fast?’ No way. I would never do that.”
—Speaking of his life in an interview in Aspen with Bob Schieffer, a respected journalist with CBS and a cancer survivor

July 2009
“The critics say I’m arrogant. A doper. Washed up. A fraud. That I couldn’t let it go. They can say whatever they want. I’m not back on my bike for them.”
—Nike “Driven” commercial in the build-up to Armstrong’s first Tour de France since his comeback from retirement, showing Armstrong training in a Livestrong jersey juxtaposed with images of cancer patients

May 2010
“It’s our word against his word. I like our word. We like our credibility. Floyd lost his credibility a long time ago.”
—Response to Floyd Landis’ accusations of systematic doping in the U.S. Postal cycling team

June 13, 2012
“I have never doped, and, unlike many of my accusers, I have competed as an endurance athlete for 25 years with no spike in performance, passed more than 500 drug tests and never failed one.”
—Responding in a statement when the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency announced its charges against him

August 23, 2012
“There comes a point in every man’s life when he has to say, ‘Enough is enough.’ For me, that time is now. I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999.”
—Announcing he would not fight USADA’s charges and pursue a hearing to prove his innocence

Source for Lance Denials: Velo News

Cyclist Lance Armstrong was officially stripped of his seven Tour de France titles as the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency ordered, consequently banning him from the sport for life.

Monday, the International Cycling Union announced it had accepted the report issued on Armstrong’s alleged drug use. He was charged with steroid use as well as using a blood boosters and transfusions to hide performance-enhancing substances present in his system.

NIKE Terminates Lance Armstrong Endorsement Deal

“Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling,” UCI president Pat McQuaid said at a press conference in Geneva on Monday.

Armstrong, 41, has lost his corporate sponsorships with Anheuser-Busch and Nike. On top of that, he will have his name removed from the Tour de France record books, which highlight his wins from 1999-2005.

UCI management will hold a special meeting on Friday to decide if Armstrong will be required to return his prize monies and if the titles will be reassigned to other riders.

Did I mention he’s still denying the claims that he used dope to begin with? Yeah…

[image: WENN]

Shoe and apparel company Nike has terminated it’s long-standing endorsement deal with embattled cyclist Lance Armstrong after nearly 15 years of sponsorship.

“Due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade, it is with great sadness that we have terminated our contract with him,” the company said in a statement. “Nike does not condone the use of illegal performance enhancing drugs in any manner. Nike plans to continue support of the Livestrong initiatives created to unite, inspire and empower people affected by cancer.”

The news of Nike’s termination with Armstrong comes on the same day that Armstrong resigned as chairman of the Livestrong Foundation that Armstrong created to help raise money and awareness for cancer research.

Nike will continue to support the Livestrong Foundation. At present writing there are more than four dozen Livestrong items on the Nike website.  Livestrong, which started with the yellow-rubber bracelets, has raised millions of dollars for cancer research over the past decade.

Michael Vick is the only other athlete to ever have an endorsement deal terminated by Nike. Nike ended it’s relationship with Vick after he was convicted of raising dogs for dog fighting.

Armstrong rose to fame as a surviver of testicular cancer after being given less than a 10% chance to live. He went on to win the Tour de France seven times in helping to make cycling more popular in America than it had ever been before.

The USADA has since stripped Armstrong of his seven Tour titles after a 200 page report detailed his extensive doping program that helped him avoid detection and authorities.  Over twenty-five witnesses, including a dozen teammates, testified against Armstrong in the report.

Is the next step for Armstrong the crying press conference where he confesses to all of the doping charges and begs forgiveness from his fans, America, and the world?

America has a big heart for forgiving athletes and politicians that come clean with the truth.  So you can likely count on it at some point.

UPDATE: Anheuser-Busch has announced that it is severing ties with Armstrong as well: “We will not renew our relationship with Lance Armstrong when current contract expires”

UPDATE 2: Trek bicycles and Giro helmets have terminated their relationships with Armstrong as well today.

UPDATE 3: Honey Stinger and 24 Hour Fitness join in the fire Lance Armstrong party per Darren Rovell.

[image: wenn.com]

Lance Armstrong is an amazing biker, father and cancer survivor, but even he is not one who can avoid advice. He tweeted that country crooner and drug loving Willie Nelson emailed him. He sent him a link to an old song that reminded him of the infamous Tour of de France race.

Here is what Lance tweeted

What’s better than an email from Willie Nelson? An email from Willie showing me this… http://t.co/dr0x3EW

I am shocked that Lance is friends with Willie. While this is interesting news, I do wonder how they became friends? Who knows, maybe Lance will not give a shot at music. He did date Sheryl Crow, so he would sort of know the business.

[ image: WENN ]

Cinco Armstrong has arrived! The cyclist and his partner Anna Hansen have welcomed their second child, a baby girl named Olivia Marie Armstrong, Lance Armstrong announced on Twitter early Monday morning (October 18).

Anna Hansen Pregnant with Lance Armstrong’s Baby #5 (PHOTOS)

Lance tweeted, “Olivia Marie Armstrong has arrived! Good morning! Thanks to you all for the support and well wishes. Momma and Olivia (@Cincoarmstrong!) are doing great. She’s a beauty!”

Lance Armstrong Slams Outside Magazine On Twitter

This is Lance’s fifth child and he now officially has his own cycling team. How cute!?! Anna and Lance have a 16 month-old son named Maxwell Edward, and he is also the father of twin girls, 9 year-old Isabelle and Grace, and 11 year-old son Luke with his ex-wife Kristin Armstrong.

Congratulations to the Armstrong family!

UPDATE: Lance tweeted a pictures of baby Olivia (picture below) with the caption, “Hi, I’m Olivia Marie Armstrong. Otherwise known as “Cinco”.” Aw! Super cute!!

[image: Twitter]

Cyclist Lance Armstrong appears on the cover of the latest issue of Outside Magazine. The 38 year-old is not happy with it and took to his Twitter to express his disdain. Lance tweeted, “Just saw the cover of the new Outside mag w/ yours truly on it. Nice photoshop on a plain t-shirt guys. That’s some lame bullsh*t. #weak”

Anna Hansen Pregnant with Lance Armstrong’s Baby #5 (PHOTOS)

The blue t-shirt reads, “38. BFD” – 38 refers to Lance’s age and BFD is the acronym for “Big F**king Deal”. The letters were allegedly Photoshop and Lance never wore that shirt. The 7-time Tour de France champion has the right to be angry, but he just gave the magazine great free publicity. Maybe that was the plan!

[image: HuffPost]

Disgraced American cyclist Floyd Landis won the 2006 Tour de France, only to have it stripped from him when he tested positive for doping, finally confessed his guilt in a series of emails earlier this month according to The Wall Street Journal.

Landis admitted to doping, steroids, EPO, and blood transfusions throughout most, if not all, of his now tainted cycling career in the emails.  He also made sure to try to take down every other cyclist in the sport as well, including the great Lance Armstrong.

In one of the emails, dated April 30 and addressed to Stephen Johnson, the president of USA Cycling, Mr. Landis said that Mr. Armstrong’s longtime coach, Johan Bruyneel, introduced Mr. Landis to the use of steroid patches, blood doping and human growth hormone in 2002 and 2003, his first two years on the U.S. Postal Service team. He alleged Mr. Armstrong helped him understand the way the drugs worked. “He and I had lengthy discussions about it on our training rides during which time he also explained to me the evolution of EPO testing and how transfusions were now necessary due to the inconvenience of the new test,” Mr. Landis claimed in the email. He claimed he was instructed by Mr. Bruyneel how to use synthetic EPO and steroids and how to carry out blood transfusions that doping officials wouldn’t be able to detect. Mr. Bruyneel and Mr. Johnson could not be reached for comment.

Floyd went on to describe having his blood removed and stored in a small refrigerator – hidden in Armstrong’s closet, in his apartment in Spain before the 2003 Tour.  Armstrong left Landis in charge of making sure it stayed cool enough and that the power didn’t go off.

Landis received a two year ban from cycling from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after the positive Tour de France results.  Landis had vehemently denied cheating at the Tour de France or at any point in his career on multiple occasions until he decided to email his guilt earlier this month.

Landis is a snitch.  He lied to all of us for years in denying that he doped.  Some of us actually believed him and only now, four years later, he wants to desperately admit his guilt.  Landis didn’t even have the balls to hold a press conference and look us in the eye and tell us.  He cowardly told us behind a series of cold emails while hiding behind his computer.

And to top that off, Landis decides since he is finally going to come clean that he is going to take Armstrong, George Hincapie, and almost every other successful U.S. cyclist down with him.  That is just down right dirty.  If you are going to join the club, then keep the code!

Floyd Landis just earned his enshrinement into the Tonya Harding wing of the Hall of Shame.

But Armstrong is being coy about it all.  He responded to the doping allegations on his Twitter (@lancearmstrong) while avoiding any direct response at the same time:

Motorized Doping: Perhaps Lance should have just remained silent for now.

Cycling is and has been the dirtiest sport on the planet. I wouldn’t trust the Tour has had a clear winner since 1911.  Armstrong, who was a mediocre cyclist before he got cancer, to become the best ever winning 7 consecutive Tour de France titles was likely the dirtiest of the all…but the smartest and sneakiest as well.

Cyclist and cancer-fighter, Lance Armstrong and his girlfriend Anna Hansen have sweetly announced via Twitter that they are expecting their second child, which is Lance’s fifth, and nicknamed the baby “CincoArmstrong”.

PHOTOS: Lance Armstrong & Anna Hansen Welcome Baby Girl Olivia Marie

Lance tweeted, “Getting ?’s today about someone I’m following, a certain @Cincoarmstrong. What to say? Yet another blessing in our lives. I cannot wait!”

The CincoArmstrong’s Twitter account is 10 days old. On April 30, CincoArmstrong tweeted, I got 2 arms, 2 legs, a nickname, and i’m 2 inches long. See y’all in October…”, which was followed by “I’m now the size of a lemon, 3.5 inches long, and weigh 1.5 ounces. And oh yeah, I’m on Twitter.”

Lance already had three children from a previous marriage (Grace, Bella and Luke). Aw! We are so happy for Lance and Anna, who welcomed baby Max Armstrong on June 4, 2009 in Aspen, Colorado. Our congratulations to the big and happy family!

Lance Armstrong & Anna Hansen Family Pictures go on reading »

Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, of Spain, showed a rather ugly and arrogant side on Monday when he made comments about his dislike for American and 7-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong.

“My relationship with Lance is zero,” Contador said at a news conference, one day after winning his second Tour. “He is a great rider and has completed a great race, but it is another thing on a personal level, where I have never had great admiration for him and I never will.”

“On this Tour, the days in the hotel were harder than those on the road,” Contador said. “The situation was tense and delicate because the relationship between myself and Lance extended to the rest of the staff.”

Armstrong, who tried to be diplomatic and the wise veteran on the team, responded via his Twitter to his former cocky and victorous teammate.

“Seeing these comments from AC. If I were him I’d drop this drivel and start thanking his team.”

I believe Lance is right. Contador won the 2009 Tour de France because he is a great rider but having a great team is the only way any rider can win the grueling Tour.  Contador not only had the greatest Tour rider on his side, and at his back, in Armstrong, but he also had the best team manager Johan Bruyneel.

That will change next year when both riders leave Astana.  Armstrong and Bruyneel have already announced the formation of the American team, Team Radioshack.  Bruyneel will put together the best team possible for Sir Lance to mount a challenge to Contador to regain his place on the top of the podium.

Retired Belgium cycling great Axel Merckx had the following to say on his Twitter.

A champion is also measured on how much he respect his teammates and opponents. You can win a race on your own not a grand tour.

And Astana team director Johan Bruyneel went all Abe Lincoln on his Twitter feed:

Sometimes it is better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt!

I think both men sum up the situation quite perfectly.

Seven-time Tour de France cycling winner Lance Armstrong became a dad for the fourth time on Thursday with the arrival of baby Max Armstrong.

Lance and his girlfriend Anna Hansen announced the pregnancy back in December.

Max came into the world weighing 7 lbs. 5 oz. and at 20 inches long.

Armstrong announced the birth of Max on his Twitter page @lancearmstrong:

Wassup, world? My name is Max Armstrong and I just arrived. My Mommy is healthy and so am I!

During the pregnancy, Lance and Anna had called the unborn child the ‘Miracle Baby.’

Lance has three children from his first marriage to Kristin Armstrong, a son Luke and twin girls Isabelle and Grace.

[photo: @lancearmstrong]

American cyclist Lance Armstrong was rushed to a hospital in Spain today after crashing during a cycling race there.  Armstrong was taken to the hospital by ambulance and likely broke his collar bone.

This update just made by CNN:

Armstrong reportedly fell around 20 kilometers from the finish and was seen pointing to his collarbone, CNN’s Al Goodman reported from northern Spain.

Organizers said Armstrong was taken to hospital at Palencia and had withdrawn from the race.

The 37-year-old Armstrong, who ended a three-year retirement to return to competitive cycling in January, walked to the ambulance unaided, television pictures from the scene showed.

A group of 15 to 20 riders fell, according to Bartosz Huzarski, a cyclist racing for the Italian team ISD. Huzarski, who saw the fall, said he did not know what had caused it. Only Armstrong appeared to indicate he was hurt, the Polish cyclist said.

Armstrong and his Astana team are in Spain competing in the Vuelta of Castilla and Leon race.  Today was the first day of the five stage race.

Updates: Lance has in fact fractured his collarbone.

Actress Kate Hudson wasted no time getting over Lance Armstrong before letting former NHL star Eric Lindros hop aboard the Hudson Express according to Perez.

Sources reveal exclusively to PerezHilton.com that Hudson is once again seeing an ex-boyfriend of hers, a fella by the name of Eric Lindros.

“Kate and Eric have been holed up at her parent’s [Goldie & Kurt's] house Muskoka, Canada,” a well-placed insider tells us. “She went there immediately after she and Lance ended things.”

Kate is wasting no time on the celebrity merry-go-round these days. It sounds like she already had a deal with Lindros locked up before exiting Senor Armstrong’s bike. Armstrong and Hudson dated for nearly four months.

Kate better be careful to not bang Eric’s head into the headboard or else he could be out of commission for 3-4 months with another concussion.