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Former Tour de France winner Greg LeMond has cancer

The American cycling star has begun treatment

One of America’s greatest cyclists has cancer. Greg LeMond, winner of the 1986, 1989 and 1990 Tours de France, as well as multiple world road champion, posted a statement on Thursday with the news. “I have been diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Fortunately, it is a type of cancer that is treatable, and it is a type of leukemia that is not life-threatening or debilitating,” the Californian-born cyclist said. “I had been experiencing a few weeks of fatigue which prompted me to go in for a check-up which included some blood work. Following a series of tests and a bone marrow biopsy, which was completed last week, I received my formal diagnosis last Friday. My doctors at the University of Tennessee, with consultation from a team at the Mayo Clinic, have outlined a chemotherapy protocol which will begin this week.”

Lemond: ‘There’s a sickness in sports’

LeMond added that no one ever wants to hear the word cancer but, admittedly, there is great relief now, to know why he was feeling poorly. “My doctors and I have decided on a treatment which will begin this week. I should be feeling better in a few weeks and for the near future, my daily schedule will be altered only a little and I have been told that in a few months, I should be in remission. The long-term prognosis is very favorable,” the former teammate of Steve Bauer added. “I am fortunate to have a great team of doctors and the full support of my family, friends and colleagues at LeMond Bicycles.

LeMond had hoped to be in France in July for the Tour, but they are now working on an alternate plan so he can follow the tour and engage with friends and teammates from their offices and farm in Tennessee.

The legendary cyclist is of course, not the first famous American rider to be stricken with cancer. Lance Armstrong, who won seven Tours de France, since stripped away due to a doping confession, had brain cancer in 1996.