Armstrong doesn't rule out Landis joining RadioShack
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Lance Armstrong rides in Dublin, Ireland's Phoenix Park on Tuesday. Armstrong is in Ireland for the three-day Livestrong global cancer summit.(Image credit: Stephen McMahon)
Just a walk in the park, so to speak, for Lance Armstrong in Dublin, Ireland's Phoenix Park.(Image credit: Stephen McMahon)
Lance Armstrong leads 1,000+ riders through Dublin, Ireland's Phoenix Park.(Image credit: Stephen McMahon)
More than 1,000 people joined Lance Armstrong for a ride in Dublin, Ireland's Phoenix Park on Tuesday evening.(Image credit: Stephen McMahon)
While in Dublin, Ireland for the Livestrong global cancer summit, Armstrong was joined by more than 1,000 people on a ride in Phoenix Park.(Image credit: Stephen McMahon)
Lance Armstrong has plenty of company as he rides through Dublin, Ireland's Phoenix Park on Tuesday.(Image credit: Stephen McMahon)
Lance Armstrong announced on Twitter Tuesday morning his intent to ride in Dublin, Ireland's Phoenix Park that evening and more than 1,000 people joined him.(Image credit: Stephen McMahon)
Riders of all ages and abilities gathered in Dublin's Phoenix Park to accompany Lance Armstrong on a ride.(Image credit: Stephen McMahon)
Lance Armstrong leads more than one thousand people on a ride through Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland. (Image credit: Stephen McMahon)
Lance Armstrong has confirmed that he will be joined by long-time Directeur Sportif Johan Bruyneel at Team RadioShack. In comments reported by American wire service Bloomberg on Tuesday, Armstrong, in Dublin, Ireland for a Livestrong-sponsored world cancer summit, said that the Belgian would be part of the new team when it begins racing next year. At the same time the seven-time Tour de France winner failed to rule out the possibility of former U.S. Postal teammate Floyd Landis joining RadioShack.
"[Johan] Bruyneel is a master at acquiring guys and building the best teams," said Armstrong, according to Bloomberg. "He'll be there."
Bruyneel, who remains under contract with Astana until the end of next year, will need to seek a release from the contract in order to take up a position with Team RadioShack. "[Bruyneel's] release has got to be negotiated," Astana's Press Officer Philippe Maertens told Bloomberg. "It's not clear how long this will take. It could be a few days, a week or longer."
Despite his certainty over Bruyneel's participation in the RadioShack start-up Armstrong remained cagey when it came to another former colleague: Floyd Landis. The Texan would not deny the possibility of the two riding together once more.
"I wouldn't rule anything out," Armstrong said. "[Floyd Landis] is a great rider, a tremendous story."
Landis rode alongside Armstrong at U.S. Postal for three of the Texan's Tour de France wins. Landis left the team to join Phonak, where he was stripped of his own Tour de France title after a positive test for testosterone in 2006, the year after Armstrong's initial retirement.
Armstrong returned to professional cycling this year with Astana after a three-year retirement. He finished third overall at this year's Tour de France after a tense battle with teammate and eventual Tour champion, Alberto Contador.
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Armstrong has admitted to being under-prepared for this year's Tour de France, but acknowledged on Tuesday that Contador was the world's best rider and would be the difficult to beat. However, he was confident that he would be stronger next season as he seeks to extend his record for overall Tour de France wins.
"I should be a bit better than I was this year on the bike," said Armstrong. "With a year under my belt, I'll come back stronger."
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