Door open for Lance to race

2005-09-08 14:55

Austin, Texas - If Tour de France champ Lance Armstrong wants to return to racing in order to keep his legacy intact, then he is welcome to rejoin the Discovery Channel team, manager Dan Osipow said on Wednesday.

"Circumstances change and when you're dealing with an athlete who feels his legacy has been challenged, things change," Osipow said on Wednesday.

American's golden hero Armstrong said on Tuesday he "will no longer rule out" an attempt to win an eighth straight Tour de France.

"When Lance got off the bike on July 24 in Paris after winning Tour number seven, we were all very much convinced he would never race professionally again," Osipow said.

"This is not to say at all a return is certain, it's just that Lance is a proud man and proud of his accomplishments.

"We will sit back and wait for him to decide and obviously he knows if he wants to return, the team will have him back."

Seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong, 33, raised the possibility of a comeback when he announced his engagement to rock star Sheryl Crow on Tuesday, although the seriousness of his comments were in doubt.

Armstrong, who has been accused of using the blood-booster EPO, issued a statement which suggests he could well return.

"While I'm absolutely enjoying my time as a retired athlete with Sheryl and the kids, the recent smear campaign out of France has awoken my competitive side," he said.

"I'm not willing to put a percentage on the chances but I will no longer rule it out."

- AFP