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Last Updated: Sunday, 24 July, 2005, 15:53 GMT 16:53 UK

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Lance Armstrong timeline

1993

Armstrong crownedworld champion at the age of 22
In only his first season as a professional cyclist Armstrong outfoxes the world's elite to be crowned world champion in Oslo at the age of 21. He also tastes his first Tour de France glory with a stage win in the same year. But he fails to make it to the end in Paris and pulls out in the mountains. Nevertheless his love affair with the Tour has begun and arguably the highest earner in the sport's history reaps the first financial rewards by winning the 1m Thrift Drug Triple Crown.

1994

Gradually cements his place in global cyclings elite
Armstrong starts to gain a reputation as a fiery upstart on the world circuit and by his admission in his autobiography some years later is too brash for his own good. In his second year as a professional he fails to quite live up to the first. But his employers are left content with his second place in the LiegeBastogneLiege which has always been among his favourite races.

1995

Triumph out of tragedy in the Tourde France
The 1995 Tour is marred by tragedy for Armstrong and his Motorola colleagues when teammate Fabio Casartelli crashes and dies on the descent of Col de Portet d'Aspet stage 15 of that year's race. Armstrong goes on to win a later stage which he dedicates to the memory of the deceased Italian. He also cements his place as an upandcoming oneday racer with a string of wins most notably the San Sebastian Classic.

1996

Diagnosed with testicular cancer in October
Armstrong's season starts off with immense promise. He wins the Fleche Wallone and is second in the LiegeBastogneLiege before his world is turned upside down when he is diagnosed with testicular cancer. Doctors give him a 5050 chance of survival after the cancer spreads to his lungs and brain. Much against the odds he starts what proves to be a successful battle against the disease and also sets up his charity the Lance Armstrong cancer foundation.

1997

Declared cancer free and joins US Postal team
After months of chemotherapy he defies the odds and is eventually declared cancerfree. Despite being told by the doctors he might never cycle again he almost immediately gets back on the bike. The US Postal team show faith in him by luring him to their team and he signs a contract with them on 16 October 1997. His priorities change and that year he says "It's ironic I used to ride my bike to make a living. Now I just want to live so that I can ride."

1998

Makes a triumphantreturn back to cyclings elite
Armstrong's muscle mass grows back differently after his cancer recovery effectively turning him from a oneday specialist to a serious overall contender. His first victory since returning is the 56km Criterium in Austin Texas. An impressive season sees him finish fourth in the world championship road race and time trial as well as fourth place overall in the Vuelta d'Espana. In the process he takes victory on stage 22. In May of that year he marries Kristin Richard.

1999

Marks his comeback in style with his first Tour de France win
For the first time in his career he turns his focus entirely to the Tour de France religiously climbing mountains in the Alps and Pyrenees in preparation. But he and his US Postal team are not fancied instead pundits predicting a tussle between Jan Ullrich and Marco Pantani. Armstrong though wins the prologue the two time trials stage eight and 19 as well as the ninth stage in Sestriere to take overall victory. Later in the year he and his wife have their first child Luke.

2000

Overcomes setbacks for a second Tour win
The defence of his yellow jersey gets off to a dire start when he crashes at 45mph while training in the Pyrenees. In the race itself a stage win on the Sestriere time trial helps him top the general classification. Similarly he crashes in preparation for the Olympics. Despite fracturing his C7 vertebra he wins bronze in the individual time trial. He also writes his autobiography It's Not About the Bike.

2001

Becomes world number one and wins Tour hattrick
Once more the season is all about the Tour. The race sees him and Jan Ullrich closely matched until the ascent up the famous Alpe d'Huez arguably the defining moment of Armstrong's Tour history to date. Riding with teammate Chechu Rubiera the Texan flies past Ullrich gives him "the look" over his shoulder and breaks the German's challenge. On 20 November his wife gives birth to twins.

2002

All too easy for Tour de France winnumber four
The French have seemingly always taken a dislike to Armstrong and this worsens as it becomes obvious win number four is in the bag. With Roberto Heras now by his side he makes light work of his rivals. Mentions of Tour de bore replace the Tour de Lance. The race sees doping question marks raised over Armstrong and his team. The team deny all wrongdoing and continually produce negative tests.

2003

Marriage breakup fails to halt Tour win number five
All the talk in 2003 is about Armstrong bidding to become the fifth cyclist to win five Tours de France. But as his marriage begins to fail some suggest his focus might be elsewhere. The race lives up to the Tour's centenary year as he struggles against a firedup Joseba Beloki and Jan Ullrich. Beloki crashes out almost taking Armstrong with him. The Texan settles and gets the win with his ascent to LuzArdiden.

2004

Wins recordbreaking sixth Tourde France
The preparations do not go to plan as US Postal announces its decision to withdraw sponsorship from the team at the end of the season. He also divorces his wife and starts a relationship with singer Sheryl Crow. But when it comes to the race and his attempt to win a record sixth Tour de France he blows away the field. He wins a total of five stages stealing victories by climbing sprinting and time trialling.

2005

Armstrong bows out with seventh Tour victory
Armstrong begins the year by announcing he will retire from the sport after the Tour de France to spend more time with his family. Many suggest he lacks the drive and determination to go out in style with a seventh Tour win. But he takes one minute off closest anticipated rival Jan Ullrich on the opening stage and after defying all his challengers in style in the first mountain stage cruises to a dominant win.

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