Lance Armstrong decided to retire from pro-cycling for the first time in 2009. He was the only cyclist to win the Tour de France seven times but the 2009 retirement didn’t last long as he made his return to the sport shortly after.
On this day, February 16th, in 2011, the 39-year-old Lance Armstrong officially retires from pro-cycling. Armstrong was tired of compromising his family and health with his training; he wanted to focus on raising his five children while promoting his foundation Livestrong and battling testicular cancer.
In 2006, Armstrong was accused of doping (boosting red blood cells to enhance athletic performance) by his former teammate, who claims that Armstrong taught him how to beat the test. However, Armstrong had tested negative for performance enhancers every time. Despite his great accomplishments and remarkable fight with cancer, the doping scandal forever tainted his legacy.