“F*ck Yeah, I’m In”: Going to Moscow Looked like a Dream to Cycling’s Once Elite Lance Armstrong

Former cyclist Lance Armstrong is well-known among aficionados of cycling. Having been one of the most divisive athletes in the sport’s history, he has secured (and subsequently lost) seven back-to-back Tour de France titles. The athlete got diagnosed with a rapidly spreading testicular cancer and retired from the sport. In conversation with Joe Pompliano, Armstrong dug deep into his roots and discussed his childhood growing up in Plano and his dreams.

 In his interview, he talks about his cancer treatment and eventual return to competitive cycling.

Lance Armstrong was shocked at the grandeur of his own achievements

“It was an adventure,” Lance nodded as he reflected on his past. “The biggest early memory I have,” he continues, “ when I first made the switch… I was still a college junior cyclist.” Lance started competitive cycling when he was of college age. 

“I was probably 17 or 18,” he shrugged. Armstrong was ecstatic when he first heard the news. “I thought wow that’s crazy, if I make the team I’m gonna go to Moscow and Race?” he exclaimed.

The decision was quick. The opportunities were huge, and the risks were high, but Armstrong was game. “I’m just a kid…if I could make the team… I’m gonna race all those kids around the world. f**k yeah, I’m in!” the cyclist concluded.

A figure of past controversy, but still relevant

On June 21, 1987, Lance Armstrong was first mentioned in the news. Lance Armstrong won the men’s Hillcrest-Tulsa Triathlon, “a 15-year-old high school junior from Plano,” according to the wire report. And since he has been under constant media attention.

In recent events, a renowned Irish journalist from Sunday Independent wanted Armstrong to talk about his life in his special podcast. But this journalist was none other than Paul Kimmage, the iconic figure of sports journalism who played a significant part in the exposure of Armstrong’s involvement in the use of performance-enhancement drugs. 

Read More > Irish Journo Gets Slammed by Lance Armstrong After Request for Interview Went Horribly Wrong 

In a Twitter post, Lance gave a fitting reply to Kimmage’s request to further revisit his years of media controversy. The athlete bashed him by calling him a clown and asking him to move on with his life. 

Watch this story: How Did An Early Uber Investment Save Lance Armstrong And His Family From Financial Crisis?

The incident took place 13 years after the rivalry’s inception at a certain dreaded 2009 press conference. Kimmage had posed a deadly question to Lance during his return to the sport four years after his ban. What do you think of Lance Armstrong’s cycling career? Let us know in the comments.