Sports

Lance Armstrong meets with President Calderon

by Pat Garcia | February 28, 2009 at 02:05 pm

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A great person I admire is in my country, he's seen as "the visible leader needed in the fight against cancer".

As he talked to our president Calderon who is a great fan, he stated "Cancer is not a death sentence" and took the opportunity to donate 300 bicycles to Mexican children.

Lance Armstrong has arrived in Mexico and his first order of business was a private meeting with President Felipe Calderon. Armstrong, who is in the country as the guest of honor for the 1,320 kilometer Vuelta Mexico bicycle race, said he hopes his visit brings more cancer awareness to Mexico and pledged to help the country in its battle against the disease. He also told Calderon that his first race took place in Mexico, a triathlon in Zihuatanejo when he was 15.

Calderon for his part, used the meeting with Armstrong to talk about the need to get Mexicans more physically fit. “Mexico is a country that urgently needs sports,” Calderon said after their meeting. “Mexico has the second highest obesity rates among adults and is first among children.”

Amstrong in now on his way to Oaxaca where he will kick off the first leg of the Vuelta Mexico.
The competition will continue till March 8th with a total of 1.320 km diveded in 8 stages, being the last one in Mexico city.
A total of 20 teams from six countries will compete in this 2009 edition of Vuelta a Mexico.
Famous American ciclist Lance Amstrong will kick it off on Sunday at the south western city of Oaxaca.
Glen Chadwick (Rock Racing, U.S), Gilberto Simoni, and Floyd Landis will be racing.

La competencia, que se prolongará hasta el 8 de marzo, constará de ocho etapas con un recorrido total de 1.320 kilómetros, la última de ellas en Ciudad de México.

Un total de 20 equipos de seis países, la mitad de ellos extranjeros, competirán en la edición 2009 de la Vuelta a México, cuya orden de salida la dará el domingo el famoso ciclista estadounidense Lance Armstrong en la ciudad de Oaxaca (sudoeste).

El ganador del Tour de Francia 2008, el neocelandés Glen Chadwick (Rock Racing, E.U.), el italiano Gilberto Simoni, dos veces victorioso en el giro de su país, así como el estadounidense Floyd Landis, entre otros, serán algunas de las figuras que disputarán la prueba.