Lance Armstrong to end pro career at Tour Down Under
Tour Down Under boss Mike Turtur says as long as Lance Armstrong has a valid race licence, it is “common sense” to bring him to Adelaide.
The record seven-time Tour de France champion will race in the January 16-23 event for the third and final time.
The State Government confirmed on Sunday that Armstrong would compete again at the Tour and also announced it would be his last professional cycling race outside the United States.
While Armstrong’s presence has undoubtedly been a massive boost for the Tour, this time his visit will also carry the risk of a public relations headache.
He is understood to be the focus of an American government investigation that is probing allegations of doping in professional cycling.
Turtur admits the Tour organisation has addressed the issue of the ongoing investigation and its potential repercussions.
But Turtur said any rider with a valid licence from cycling’s world governing body, the UCI, should be allowed to race.
“We understand there’s an investigation being conducted … where that goes, I don’t know, because I don’t know enough about the investigation to make comment on it,” Turtur said.
“All we have to do is go by the decision of the UCI – if it came to a situation where there was going to be some issues, then obviously if it was instructed within the UCI that we needed to act upon this, then we would take the decision of the UCI.
“That would go for any licence holder.
“No.1 – I’m the biggest supporter of the sport in terms of getting rid of the cheats.”
Turtur is also the UCI’s Oceania region president.
The SA Government pays Armstrong a marketing fee for work he does around the event, rumoured to be just under $2 million.
Turtur pointed to the massive increase in crowds that Armstrong’s presence at the race had generated over the last two years.
He said as a business decision, it was “common sense” to invite him again.
“The proof is in the pudding … if you look at the 2008 race versus 2009 and 2010, the numbers speak for themselves, they’re staggering,” Turtur said.
“We’re in a business here, I know we stage a bike race, but just as importantly, we stage a tourism event which is designed to do a couple of things – bring people to SA and also to increase economic activity.
“When you’re running a business … you look at things that work and are proven and deliver – certainly having Lance Armstrong on the start line caters for all those considerations more than we could ever have dreamt about.
“It’s a major coup … it’s another major thing for the race that’s going to further consolidate our position.”
While Armstrong has been the major drawcard at the Adelaide race in the last two years, he has not been an overall contender because his focus has been on the July Tour de France.
With the French race no longer on Armstrong’s schedule, Turtur admits it will be interesting to see what form the Texan brings to Adelaide this time.
“He wouldn’t stay on the bike just to go around in the peloton, he would want to be involved in the race, whatever that may be,” Turtur said.
“We all know the race isn’t his terrain, but there are opportunities.
“There are a couple of spots where he can show his colours and hopefully we get to see that.”
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