RadioShack Sponsoring Lance Armstrong in 2010 Tour De France

Lance Armstrong, the 7-time Tour de France winner, has announced that electronics retailer RadioShack will be sponsoring him in the 2010 Tour de France. Armstrong has confirmed that he will be riding in next year's Tour de France for Team RadioShack, but said for certain that it will be his last. He will not be competing in the 2011 Tour de France, as he can't see himself cycling at 40 years old.

Cycling is not the first sport that RadioShack has been involved in. They have also been involved with the NBA and MLS in the past, and is currently a NASCAR sponsor. RadioShack released a statement on Armstrong's foundation web site that read: "Lance Armstrong will compete for Team RadioShack as a cyclist, runner and triathlete in events around the world, including the 2010 Tour de France." There is no word yet on who Armstrong's teammates will be next year, but Levi Leipheimer, who is Lance's Astanta teammate at the moment, is rumored to be one.

Armstrong made a statement of his own after the news was released: "To be able to compete for an American team comprised of the world's top cyclists, supported by the best coaches and staff -- I couldn't be happier to partner with RadioShack, a truly iconic American brand. Technology is so important in what we do as a cycling team and now as a society, and I can't think of a better partner to help us progress the team."

At this year's Tour de France, Armstrong is racing for Team Astanta and is currently third in the standings after eighteen stages. Their are only a few more stages to go and the race ends this Sunday. Armstrong has pretty much conceded the race to his Astanta teammate Alberto Contador, who is leading the race, and has a five minute and 25 second lead over Armstrong. Contador has clearly been the best racer in this year's field and is a deserving champion. Armstrong hopes to have a podium finish (top three), and is pushing for a second place finish, that is currently occupied by Andy Schleck, who has a 1 minute, 14 second lead over Lance.

Armstrong surprisingly came out of retirement late last year, and devoted his comeback to cancer awareness. He had been active during his four-year retirement, running marathons and proclaiming his innocence against performance-enhancing drugs. Armstrong raced in the Tour Down Under stage race in Australia and the Vuelta Castilla y Leon race before racing in this year's Tour de France. Armstrong should consider himself a winner again, even if he doesn't win the Tour de France this year. He has done more for cancer awareness than any other athlete, in any other sport.