Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

Lance Armstrong is coming back with an expanded announcement on September 24th at the Clinton Global Initiative. The main goal of the comeback at least publicly is to help promote the fight against cancer. The thinking is that with Armstrong being out there back in the spotlight, he could have a better platform to push for cancer awareness while fulfilling his mad love for competition.

The goal of promoting cancer awareness and fighting cancer could bring out some major sponsors such as Bristol Meyers Squibb and a host of drug companies that would benefits from more research dollars going to fight cancer. Seeing Armstrong suit up for a team sponsored by a Kazakhstan conglomerate would not really jive with Armstrong’s main message.

Team Astana is doing OK. Alberto Contador is proving to the cycling world to be the best stage racer of the moment. He is maturing quickly and with the guidance of Johan Bruyneel. The Astana team is strong with Leipheimer and Kolden among others providing formidable support to Contador. The formula at Astana seems to be perfect. Contador just crush everyone at the Vuelta with back to back wins otherwise sealing his victory of his third Grand Tour in two years. Bottom line is that Astana does not look like a team where Armstrong would provide any sort of missing piece, in fact Armstrong could disrupt Contador’s run at more Tour victories and mess with the team chemistry by demanding to be top dog of the very well oiled machine.

Next there are several US Domestic squads that are looking for sponsors. First is one of the strong teams of the past few years Healthnet-Maxxis which is without a main sponsor. The rumor is that the team found a new sponsor which is rumored to be Floyd Landis’ hip manufacturer Smith and Nephew. Seeing that this sponsor is not leading a global initiative, but simply promoting replacement hips for the baby boomer crowd, why would a man like Lace Armstrong with a major foundation who probably has some paid staff and a marketing budget not see cycling as a worthwhile investment? Wouldn’t it make more sense for Armstrong to start a new team or take over a team with no sponsor (take a pick there are plenty) and run his own program? He could promote the Livestrong brand and ride in his own colors. He would gain entry to many races and maybe even the Tour de France since he would bring in TV (except in Germany).

The disadvantages would be that Armstrong would be without his longtime coach Johan Bruyneel. Amstrong would also not have such a strong team to help him actually win the Tour de France. So, come September 24th it may not be a surprise to me if Armstrong completely bypassed Astana and sets up his own team to promote the cancer awareness mission instead of donning the light blue and yellow of the Kazakh conglomerate.