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American Morning

Lang Armstrong Cycles to Victory

Aired July 30, 2001 - 11:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: For the third year in a row, Lance Armstrong has pedaled to victory in the Tour de France. Despite his battle with cancer, Armstrong says he still has a passion for cycling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LANCE ARMSTRONG, TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER: I love it. I love what I do. I love the event, regardless of little sagas and little controversies that come along. You know what? I even like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KELLEY: Joining us now by phone from London, CNN Sports Illustrated reporter Patrick Snell -- Patrick, what's going on today?

PATRICK SNELL, CNNSI CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's been very much a day of reflection for Lance Armstrong since he finished that historic achievement, the three consecutive Tour de Frances.

He's spending time with his wife and young child. And already he's been looking ahead to next year when he says he will definitely be back in Paris to defend his Tour de France title and he says he's determined to win it again, if at all possible.

He said he won't be traveling to France to finish up in second place. And that's pretty much a chilling warning, I think, for all his rivals, many of whom feel that they cannot compete with Lance Armstrong, such is his determination to will. And I know that he has led to some feeling of kind of dispiritedness among his fellow competitors and certainly the German Jan Ullrich, he felt that he would have won a Tour de France victory had Lance Armstrong not been around.

But the bad news for all of them is that Lance will definitely be back in Paris, all being well for him, next year, Donna.

KELLEY: Yes, you know, Jan Ullrich, too, said that he didn't think that Lance Armstrong made any mistakes. Did Lance Armstrong think that he did?

SNELL: Well, Lance is always striving for perfection. But he seemed pretty content with his achieved, his three consecutive victories. Certainly he, he had a pretty quiet race. He was always in control in his own mind, I understand, and it was in the mountains, really, in the French Pyrenees and the Alps that he showed his dominance and he emerged from the Alps really in pole position. And I think it was there, really, that he destroyed, really, the mentality of his competitors, particularly Ullrich, who gave it his best shot but just couldn't get near the American rider when push came to shove. And I think that's what set him up so strongly to finish.

Sipping champagne, as he did last year, on his way into Paris, looking relaxed, smiling. You know, he's loving his sport so much at the moment, Donna.

KELLEY: You know, what's next for him, just real quickly, if you can, Patrick? I know you said Paris next year, but what's really next for him?

SNELL: Well, he's always stressing that family is very important. He does want to spend sort of time with family. There are other events he will be taking part in. There will be other races in the coming months. But he does want to spend time with his wife and family, another baby on the way, of course. That's very, very important to him.

And don't forget, you know, the last three weeks have been very grueling for him and the preparation, the months leading up to this Tour de France, this is the biggest sightseeing race in the world. It means more to Lance Armstrong than any other race. And that has taken a lot out of him. I think now he just wants to settle back and enjoy his family -- Donna.

KELLEY: Yes, one little fellow and I think twins on the way.

Patrick Snell, our CNN Sports Illustrated reporter, thanks.

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