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SEPTEMBER 2008
I started to put in longer training rides this month. Heading out of my ranch in Drippings Springs, Texas, on an old farm road going toward Johnson City, I saw what looked like a dog in the distance. As I got closer I realized it wasn't a dog, it was a pig—just standing out in the middle of the road all by himself. … You can see here I wasn't yet serious about cycling: I still have hairy legs.
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SEPTEMBER 2008
On the set of CNN's American Morning.
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SEPTEMBER 2008
At the kickoff of CGI it was quite an honor for me to be standing there with arguably two of the most powerful men in the world, Mayor Bloomberg and President Clinton.
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SEPTEMBER 2008
After Vegas, we landed in Austin. I picked up a lot of gear in Vegas. What the heck I am supposed to do with this pile of wheels?
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OCTOBER 2008
A typical off-season workout for me: a lot of core, fullbody, and stability work. Last winter I was doing a lot of clapping push-ups, plyometrics, and some muscle-specific work with weights. I have a makeshift gym set up in my garage in Austin so I can do it all right there.
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NOVEMBER 2008
The Tour de Gruene is a classic Texas race. The course runs by Gruene Hall, a famous old live-music venue. Many of the country-western stars that we know today, from Pat Green to Willie Nelson, have played in Gruene Hall.
This race is special to me for two reasons. I did it as team LIVESTRONG this year with one of my best buds, John "College" Korioth, and won. And I did it in 1996, a month after I was diagnosed with cancer. I was weak, tired, and bald. Eddy Merckx, the greatest cyclist of all time, flew from Belgium to ride with me in that Tour de Gruene.
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DECEMBER 2008
Even in December we look for challenging rides. We found what we were looking for on Tenerife, in the tiny town of Masca. This was a very, very demanding ride, probably the steepest road on the island, with about a 20 percent grade. Jani Brajkovic and I had to work to catch Levi Leipheimer and Jesús Hernández after they simulated a breakaway.
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FEBRUARY 2009
The weather cleared before the fifth stage, across the Central Valley and past the almond groves.
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MARCH 2009
On day one of Vuelta a Castilla y León, I got caught in the back when some guys crashed in front of me. I couldn't avoid them, went over the bars, and landed pretty hard on my right shoulder. X-rays were taken at the hospital in Spain. Diagnosis: my collarbone was broken in a few places. I was in total misery, still wearing the socks and cycling shorts from the race.
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MARCH 2009
Liz kindly took the long flight home with me. I was happy for her company, although I think I slept the whole way back to Texas.
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APRIL 2009
My "after" X-ray shows the plate and screws in place.
APRIL 2009
An entrepreneurial kid showed up at the Tour of the Gila with giant printed cutouts of my face. He had hundreds, maybe even thousands, of these and was selling them for five dollars apiece. They were a popular item. It was freaky to see hundreds of cutouts of my face bobbing around town that weekend. I took the opportunity to grab one from somebody and do a group shot with my clones.
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MAY 2009
This stage went from Austria, then back to Italy via Switzerland and St. Moritz. We were riding on some of the roads I trained on extensively before most Tours de France. I often spent the entire month of June in St. Moritz before the Tour.
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MAY 2009
Signing in that day in the piazza at Avellino not so far from Naples. Even the sign-in board is cool at the Giro—it was transparent so the fans could see us check in.
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MAY 2009
The final time trial, in Rome. Seventy-five percent of the course was over cobblestone streets. That's the Coliseum in the background. It was an absolutely stunning setting. Just before I was to ride, it started to rain. Wet cobblestones don't make for easy riding, but I have to say, I still really love Rome.
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JULY 2009
It was a day or two before the start [of the Tour], riding my new time trial bike that artist Marc Newson designed for me. Clearly those legs were ready to race.
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JULY 2009
This is a shot of the necklace I have worn for all of my Tours. Stacy Pounds, who was Bill's assistant back when I was diagnosed, gave the cross to me. She was incredibly supportive during that time, which meant a lot to me and my family. She helped manage my cancer treatment. Unfortunately, just as I was finishing my treatment, Stacy was diagnosed with lung cancer. We exchanged crosses and wore them as a symbol of our solidarity with and affection for each other; to this day I wear the cross she gave me. Stacy wasn't as fortunate as I was in her battle with cancer. After she passed, she was buried with the cross I'd given her.
The other medallion I wear is one my ex-wife Kristin gave me. I rely on and trust her immensely. She is a very spiritual woman. This medallion is inscribed with a verse from the Bible, Second Timothy, chapter 4, verse 7:
I have fought the good fight.
I have finished the race.
I have kept the faith.
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JULY 2009
The final podium with Andy Schleck, Alberto, and me. I guess I am looking up at the trophy. I have seven of them; I know what it's like to have one, to hold it up, to hear your national anthem. It's a very significant thing in cycling, and in sport. Alberto was better than any of us in this Tour, and he deserved to win. Having said that, I look forward to coming back and going for number eight.
