ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, October 9, 1996             TAG: 9610090030
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: AUSTIN, TEXAS 
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS

ARMSTRONG HAS LONG RIDE AHEAD

LANCE ARMSTRONG, the two-time Tour DuPont champ, is undergoing treatment for testicular cancer.

Cycling star Lance Armstrong had a cancerous testicle removed Thursday and has begun chemotherapy to combat the disease, which has spread to his stomach and lungs.

``I'm entering this battle in the best shape of my life,'' Armstrong said Tuesday. ``I want to stay in shape. As soon as the wounds heal, I want to be back on the bike.''

Armstrong, 25, is the top U.S. road cyclist. He is the 1993 world road race cycling champion, a two-time Tour de France stage winner and a two-time Tour DuPont titlist (1995 and 1996). This year, Armstrong won Stage 5 of the Tour DuPont in Roanoke, Va., and Stage 6 the next day in Blacksburg, Va.

Armstrong said he expects to return to training as early as next week. Physicians have given him a 65 percent to 85 percent chance for a full recovery.

``I won't be riding six hours, like usual, for now,'' said Armstrong, speaking by conference call. ``But I have been given approval to ride up to 50 miles a day to stay in some sort of shape. I'm going to race again.''

He was diagnosed Oct.2, underwent surgery Thursday and began a 12-week chemotherapy program Monday.

Armstrong said in a statement that a CAT scan revealed the cancer has spread to his lungs and abdomen.

``In terms of degrees of the disease, my condition is considered to be advanced,'' he said.

Armstrong said he had one enlarged testicle for as long as he could remember. But he didn't believe it posed a problem until it recently became painful and he began to spit up blood.

A spokeswoman for Brown McCarroll and Oaks Hartline, the Austin law firm representing the cyclist, said Armstrong might need more surgery and chemotherapy after his 12 weeks of treatment.

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ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:   1. MEDALIST SPORTS INC.  Cycling star Lance Armstrong 
          says cancer won't keep him from racing again.  color
          2. headshot of Armstrong    color