NEW YORK -- New York City and the U.S. Postal
Service delivered a rousing welcome to triple Tour de France
champion Lance Armstrong on Thursday as Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
declared it Lance Armstrong Day in the Big Apple.
|  | | Lance Armstrong throws out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night. |
Armstrong, who on Sunday completed his third successive
Tour de France triumph as a member of the U.S. Postal Service
cycling team, was honored in a ceremony on the steps of
Manhattan's main post office branch.
Giuliani said Armstrong, who has overcome testicular cancer
to reign supreme in cycling, has been an inspiration to
Americans.
"The people of New York love you and admire you, and
respect your achievements as an athlete and a role model for
taking on a deadly disease and dealing with it and thriving,"
said Giuliani, who is battling prostate cancer himself.
"You have been an inspiration to me personally and an
inspiration for many people you will never get to know. They
see what you have done and it gives them hope, strength and the
desire to overcome cancer and other diseases.
"You have been a big inspiration in this country and you
should be proud."
Armstrong said he owed the postal service a debt of
gratitude.
"I want to give my heartfelt thanks to the Postal Service,"
said Armstrong. "They were the only team that would support me
in 1998 when no one would.
"They were there for me when I was coming back. I can't
thank them enough."
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |
|
ALSO SEE
Armstrong upset with LeMond comments
Armstrong takes an American tour
Easy Rider: Armstrong wins third straight Tour de France
The Berman Files: Your choice: Tour de Lance
|
