
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, December 4, 1994                   TAG: 9412070072
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: D-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DISEASE ENDS CYCLING CAREER FOR LEMOND

Greg LeMond, a three-time Tour de France winner who climbed to the pinnacle of cycling by overcoming formidable odds, retired Saturday because of a rare muscular disease.

LeMond said he has mitochondrial myopathy, and that the malady has sapped his strength the past three seasons.

At a news conference held in conjunction with the Korbel Night of Champions in Beverly Hills, Calif., the 33-year-old cyclist said he made his decision after considering the results of months of testing.

Mitochondria are responsible for energy production and generally are referred to as the power source for muscle contraction, according to a news release from LeMond's doctors.

LeMond's physician, Rochelle Taube, said this is the first known diagnosis of the disease in a healthy individual and the first in an athlete. The disease usually affects pediatric and older patients.

LeMond, of Wayzata, Minn., in 1986 became the first non-European to win the prestigious 23-day, 2,000-mile Tour de France. He was the second American rider to compete in the event.

LeMond was shot accidentally by his brother-in-law while hunting for wild turkeys in northern California in April 1987. He had more than 60 lead pellets removed from his liver, kidneys, intestines and backside in five hours of surgery, but more than 40 remain in his body, including two in the lining of his heart.

LeMond said his doctors are pursuing a possible link to the hunting accident, as well as his genetics for the cause of the disease. While there are no limitations to his daily activities and recreational sports, the condition makes it impossible to achieve and maintain the level of fitness necessary to race competitively.

LeMond came back from the injury to win the Tour de France in July 1989, claiming the famed yellow jersey on the final day with a victory in a 15-mile individual time trial. In that trial, he set a tour record by averaging 34 mph and edged rival Frenchman Laurent Fignon for the overall title by eight seconds, the narrowest victory in tour history.

LeMond won his second World Championship later that season and came back to defend his Tour de France title in 1990.

But his career then went into a slow decline.

by CNB