79S20164 JHS-D



By:  Strama                                                     H.C.R. No. 14 







CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

	WHEREAS, Lance Armstrong concluded his professional cycling 

career in grand style, capturing his seventh consecutive Tour de 

France victory in front of 500,000 spectators on the 

Champs-Elysees; and

	WHEREAS, Relying on the invaluable assistance of his 

teammates, the strategic and tactical mastery of team director 

Johan Bruyneel, and his own single-minded determination and will to 

win, Mr. Armstrong wore the yellow jersey for 17 of the Tour's 21 

grueling stages; overall, he wore the jersey for 82 stages during 

his brilliant Tour career, second only to the great Belgian cyclist 

Eddy Merckx, one of his personal heroes and biggest supporters; and

	WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong's climb to cycling's precipitous 

heights has been well documented since his recovery from advanced 

testicular cancer in the late 1990s, and his incredible success in 

the world's most demanding sporting event has helped to bring 

needed attention to the plight of cancer victims and survivors; 

through the Lance Armstrong Foundation, millions of dollars have 

been raised to help meet the needs of these individuals and their 

families, and the establishment of the foundation is a significant 

part of his legacy; and

	WHEREAS, This year's Tour victory has put an indelible stamp 

on what was already the greatest and most inspirational career in 

professional cycling; after winning the 2004 Tour with yet another 

superhuman effort, and surpassing five-time winners Miguel 

Indurain, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil, and Merckx, the Texan 

dominated the 2005 event with the help of his Discovery Channel 

teammates; and

	WHEREAS, Opening the race with a second-place finish in the 

prologue, an individual time trial, Mr. Armstrong stepped to the 

podium two stages later as the general classification leader 

following his team's win in the Stage 3 team time trial; over the 

next two weeks, he staved off attacks from several challengers in 

the demanding mountain stages and proudly watched as team members 

George Hincapie and Paolo Salvodelli boosted the team's overall 

ranking with stage victories of their own; and

	WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong sealed his seventh title with a 

dominating performance in Stage 20, a highly technical individual 

time trial that allowed him to demonstrate the breadth of his 

abilities and enabled him to extend his already imposing lead over 

his challengers; his victory left no doubt in the minds of his 

rivals, who could only praise him for his superlative physical 

ability and unparalleled mental toughness, as they look forward to 

next year, when the Tour de France will have a new victor; and

	WHEREAS, With his final win in the 2005 Tour de France, Mr. 

Armstrong has distanced himself from the field, establishing a 

record that will likely never be broken or equaled, and this 

accomplishment, as well as his continuing efforts in support of 

cancer victims and survivors, has made him a hero to countless fans 

throughout the world; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas, 

2nd Called Session, hereby congratulate Lance Armstrong on his 

unprecedented seventh consecutive victory in the Tour de France and 

honor him on his remarkable career in professional cycling; and, be 

it further

	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 

prepared for Mr. Armstrong as an expression of high regard by the 

Texas House of Representatives and Senate.