2005 Tour de France: Stage 21
By Paul Sherwen

Today was the end of an unbelievable ride, an incredible story that even Hollywood couldn't have thought up. When I met Lance Armstrong in 1992 I knew he was special. He was straight talking and fresh -- something that was new in the old fashioned world of European cycling.

He immediately talked like a winner, a leader and a champion. He told the truth. Always achieving the goals that he set himself.

When I met him in November 1996 I thought I was meeting him for the last time. No hair, eyebrows or lashes. Twenty pounds lighter than the one-day classics rider that I had seen win the Fleche Wallone. He shuffled down the corridor at the University Hospital in Indianapolis, pushing a Baxter, drip in his arm, and physically not the man that I had seem dominate European cycling.

I thought it was to be the last time I would see him. After all, the doctors told me he was almost certainly a "goner.” But that is not knowing the man -- he fought back, he came back, and he lived.

I never thought that I would witness him ride a bike again, but at least Idid see him survive. I never thought that he would win the Tour de France once, let alone seven times.

Now this chapter of his story closes on the Champs Elysees today. But instinct tells me this story is not yet over -- it can't be. Lance live on, go well and "Live Strong.” See you down the road.

 

A Little bit about Paul Sherwen:

Paul raced seven times in the Tour de France from 1978-1985. During his cycling career, he garnered the British National Road race championships in 1987. Since retiring from the sport '87 he has covered the Tour de France every year for several television networks around the world. He also worked closely with Lance Armstrong in his early professional career as the Public Relations Director of the now defunct Motorola Cycling Team. Paul and his family live in Busia, a small town on the Uganda/Kenya border where they operate a gold mine.