Lance Armstrong left this year’s Tour de France failing to match his own expectations.

Yes, Stage 20 of the Tour de France 2010 was his final appearance as he rode down the Champs Elysees in Paris. It was a sad day for Armstrong, aged 38, and for his many fans, to see the great man’s exit.

In Stage 19, the time trial, RadioShack rider Lance Armstrong finished in 67^th. And for the Texan cyclist who has an amazing legacy at the Tour de France after seven titles, finishing 67^th was embarassing. This time last year he came out of a four-year retirement and came close to making it 8 wins, but this year, his final year, it was not to be.

He had misfortune in many of the first few stages. In Stage 8, he suffered three crashes, effectively ending his chances. It was a sad and emotional day as he said graciously afterwards, “My tour is finished. No tears from me. I’ve had a lot of years here where it’s been very different, so I’m not going to dwell on today.”

We cannot ignore though, that the fight to defend his legacy in the sport still continue with a federal grand jury in Los Angeles still investigating illegal doping in the sport, that includes Floyd Landis, disgraced former Tour de France winner, continuing to make allegations against Armstrong.

Both Armstrong and his lawyer, Tim Herman, have referred to the investigation as a “witch hunt,” and no doubt many of Armstrong’s most ardent fans will be hoping for the best.

For now though we have to remember the skills and determination that Armstrong, a former cancer survivor, brought to the world of cycling. His last hurrah at the Tour may not have been the one many had hoped for, but that can’t tarnish what he has already accomplished.

“I love him,” Bradley Wiggins said. “I think he’s great. He’s transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense. Even his strongest critics have benefitted from him. I don’t think this sport will ever realise what he’s brought it or how big he’s made it.”

“Cycling was in the dark ages before he came along, in many ways. You only have to look at the support along the roads, compared to what it was 20 years ago. The majority of that is because of Lance Armstrong. Obviously he has his enemies and people among the fans who don’t like him, but they’ve all benefitted from him and his existence on the Tour.”

Perhaps it is better for everyone when heroes return to normal proportions before taking their final bow. For all his acquired celebrity and notoriety, for all the stardust and the sulphur, Armstrong has appeared more mortal during this Tour than at any time since his debut 17 years ago.

Yet, he is still considered as the greatest cyclist to ever race Le Tour.

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Tour de France Lance Armstrong

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