Aloha Analytics: Lance Armstrong Montage

This is a deviation from the usual content of this blog. Last Sunday Lance Armstrong won in convincing fashion the Nevada City Classic. This was after breaking his collarbone almost exactly 3 months ago. Most people physically take 6 to 8 weeks to heal any bone break. Lance was racing in and finishing the Giro of Italia or Tour of Italy last month while mere mortals would still have been healing from a broken bone. All of this is after Lance announced last year that he would make a comeback to professional cycling at the age of 36, now 37, to bring more attention to Cures for Cancer. With these latest results in the Nevada City Classic, Lance physically looks to be in some of the best shape of his life (see below pictures). Three months ago I thought this comeback was over, now I think he can win the Tour de France an 8th time. The guy is incredible. Here is a montage of news and videos on Lance's career, recent and past:

"Armstrong wins Nevada City in solo break"

By Mark Deterline Jun. 21, 2009

Lance Armstrong and Shelly Olds won their respective Nevada City Classics on Sunday, both using strong solo efforts to ride to victory in the 49th annual race through the Northern California mining town...

On a side note, I followed Lance in Texas when he was still a teenager. Years later after reading his book, It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life, I learned that his first oncologist was Dr. Youman who's kids I went to school with. I also learned that after his initial diagnosis, one of Lance's friends who helped him research possible treatments online was a guy named Bart Knaggs. I went to Jr. High with Bart. I remember Bart and his dad who wrote a history textbook. I thought it was amazing that Bart Knaggs from 7th grade turned out to be the guy who helped Lance Armstrong find a successful path for treatment of cancer with information from online. Some cool videos down below, but first here's a little history on Lance.

From: http://www.nndb.com/people/702/000030612/

Lance Armstrong

Born: 18-Sep-1971
Birthplace: Plano, TX
Executive summary: 7-time Tour De France winner

Lance started as a triathlete, the sport where competitors swim, cycle and run. He was good in the water and fast on his feet, but cycling was Armstrong's strength, and he soon decided to concentrate on cycling competitions. He won the US amateur cycling championship in 1991, and turned professional the following year.

In 1996 Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which had already spread to his brain and lungs, and doctors told him he had a 50/50 chance of surviving. Armstrong underwent surgery, received high-dose chemotherapy, and eventually recovered. His doctors then told him the 50/50 line had been a little white lie -- his actual odds of survival had been much worse, but they did not want to get his spirits down. In 1997, Armstrong began cycling again, and established the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The Foundation provides education and advocacy for cancer patients, and funds cancer research.

In 1999, he qualified for cycling's most prestigious race, the Tour de France -- a huge one-lap race around all of France, broken into 20 stages plus a short prologue. The race's flat stages eventually give way to steep mountains, which separate the winner from the also-rans. The total distance is more than 2,000 miles, and it is incredibly grueling. Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times consecutively, from 1999 through 2005.

Armstrong's heart is almost a third larger than that of an average man. It beats about thirty-two times a minute during those moments when Armstrong is at rest, and can exceed two hundred beats a minute when he exerts himself. Either number is far enough from the norm to startle any doctor with a stethoscope.

Mother: Linda Armstrong Kelly (nee Mooneyham)
Father: Terry Armstrong (stepfather)
Wife: Kristin (Richard) Armstrong (m. 8-May-1998, div. 2003)
Son: Luke David Armstrong (12-Oct-1999, with Kristin)
Daughter: Isabelle Armstrong (twin, b. 2001, with Kristin)
Daughter: Grace Armstrong (twin, b. 2001, with Kristin)
Girlfriend: Sheryl Crow (together 2004)
Girlfriend: Ashley Olsen (Olsen twin, together 2007)
Girlfriend: Anna Hansen (together 2008-, one son)
Son: Max Armstrong (b. 7-Jun-2009 with Hansen)