First published 2009
Lance Armstrong had conquered testicular cancer and claimed seven Tour de France victories before stepping away from professional cycling. Three years later, he makes an unexpected decision to compete again. His goal extends beyond personal achievement: he wants to spread the LIVESTRONG cancer awareness message globally through racing. Armstrong chronicles his comeback season through personal journal entries paired with striking photographs. He begins with the Tour Down Under, moves through the Tour of California, then faces a devastating crash in Spain that breaks his collarbone during the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon. The setback forces him to rebuild his campaign around the Giro d'Italia before culminating at the Tour de France. Photographer Elizabeth Kreutz captures both the spectacular race landscapes and intimate behind-the-scenes moments throughout Armstrong's journey. This photo-journal reveals how a champion athlete transforms personal struggle into a platform for advocacy, showing that comeback stories can serve purposes larger than individual glory.
Genres: autobiography, sports, biography-memoir, 21st-century, activism, cycling
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, platform-for-advocacy
Setting: Castilla y Leon, France, Spain
Period: 2000s
208 pages · Hardcover · Touchstone