Armstrong's last overseas hurrah at Tour Down Under

I wonder if the State Premier Mike Rann keeps up with current affairs? If It were my tax dollars at work, I would think twice about voting for that guy in an election.

By all means let LA participate in a private capacity but to pay him 2 million dollars for the priviledge. You might as well go out and hand out 4000 free bikes to kids at 500$ a pop.

But it would appear that the Australian cycling body like to keep a few skeletons in the closet as well.

The following extract from Adelaide Now:

Italy's Giampaolo Caruso was caught doping during Australia's premier road cycle race on January 25, 2003, but the former ONCE-Eroski rider's drug offence was never made public by tour officials.

Caruso tested positive for nandrolone - an anabolic steroid - after winning the famous Willunga Hill Stage 5.

He was suspended from racing for six months and fined $2000, nine months after the race in October 2003.

Tour Down Under officials also stripped Caruso of the stage win prize money, awarding the cash to the stage's runner-up.

Tour Down Under race director and president of the Oceania Cycling Confederation Mike Turtur said he did not believe race organisers needed to make public Caruso's positive test and the ban.

Does it remind you of another international body?

' Will the real Slim Shady, Please stand up! Please stand up!'

Why won't he just go away?

Rather than folks castigating the messenger because you don't like the message/post:
For what it's worth, Terry Fox (a Canadian cancer victim who ran 3/4 across Canada in the early 1980s) is a more laudable figure (IMHO) in the 'fight' against cancer and end of life hospice care. His foundation since late 1980s has rather quietly raised over a half billion dollars (about 2x LAF). Anyway, it's reasonably safe to say that we've all been affected in varied ways by cancer and benefited by research/hospice/etc.

Check out charitynavigator.org to get a read on LAFs relative contributions towards alleviating cancer suffering and research. It's a nice, modest effort- considering the amount of money globally that goes to cancer research and the advertisement budget thrust towards getting those contributions. Personally, I feel there's higher priorities facing humanity globally right now than just cancer.

Clearly, BIKEDOG has never suffered from cancer and god forbid he ever does.

The man is world famous, one of best ever cyclists who had cancer, nearly died and recovered enough to win seven Tours de France.

What cause do you think is he is going to dedicate his fame, fortune and influence towards.

Ask a cancer sufferer who takes all his inspiration from Lance Armstrong, continues to fight this horrendous disease, struggles through chemotherapy sessions without loosing the will to live and recover due to Lance Armstrong's story.

Just as soon as you can claim to have that level of positive influence on thousands or even one dying person you can retort with some credibility.

Ask the 28million people with cancer and the further millions of friends and family of the victims if sexual equality should take precedence.

I agree with Fish n Chips on this one, yes there may be more pressing issues as a species such as our use of the planet, water shortages, hiv aids etc etc but cancer does blight a lot of lives as I personally can testify and Im sure plenty of others can too - as with all ilnesses, diseases etc anyone who can raise the profile should do.

Yes there are other, more pressing things, but I admire him for what he/his marketing machine have done in the support of advances to fight cancer and support those who have suffered from it.

Good point but Livestrong has raised millions which is needed for research with global cuts in science.

I think Livestrong was strong for him at first and then it became racing hard again.

Maybe it will rise again as odd appearances from Lance at marathons and smaller races with the odd big race.

Personally I'm glad to see him back.

(Hides under a stone for safety)

I imagine he'll never 'retire" as there's always racing going on. Whatever we may feel about him personally or his doping allegations/etc, he's somewhat a big name/face in terms of the biz/industry. Perhaps races provide him with appearance fees and a chance to spread his message.

Nevertheless, I often have a bit of a hard time with the 'cancer campaign' & riding- never have completely seen the connections between how he's branded himself and Livestrong. It seems a bit discordant. I think there's more serious things confronting humanity than cancer. How about clean water, hunger, racial/sexual equality, etc?

There's 'retired', and then there's retired...

i thought he had retired (again) ?