As he often had to spend the month of July on the roads of the Tour de France, but this time Greg LeMond will be forced to stay at home in the United States due to a health problem. The triple winner of the Grande Boucle (1986, 1989, 1990) revealed on June 2 on his official website to be suffering from a chronic form of leukemia. “The purpose of this statement is to let you know that I have been diagnosed with chronic leukemia. Fortunately, it’s a treatable type of cancer, and it’s a non-life-threatening, non-debilitating type of leukemia. »
The 60-year-old former athlete explains that he carried out additional health examinations after experiencing a few weeks of fatigue. A bone marrow biopsy provided the diagnosis. His chemotherapy is due to begin in Tennessee this week. “I feel relieved to know why I didn’t feel well,” he said. Of course, no one likes to hear the word cancer, but the doctors have assured me that I will feel better in a few weeks. The long-term forecasts are very positive. »
Greg LeMond remains the most successful American cyclist in history, Lance Armstrong having been stripped of his French victories. He won the Tour de France in 1986, 1989 and 1990, and notched five stage victories. He also wore the rainbow jersey twice, in 1983 and again in 1989. Regularly called on the Tour de France as a consultant, he also continues to run his business LeMond Bicycles.