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Greg LeMond (stock image from May 2007)
Photo:
epa Joshua Gates Weisberg / dpa
Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond has chronic leukemia and has already started treatment.
"Fortunately, it's a type of cancer that is treatable and a type of leukemia that is not life-threatening or debilitating," the 60-year-old American said in a statement.
After many tests and a bone marrow biopsy, he was diagnosed a few days ago, LeMond said.
According to the doctors, he could be on the mend again in a few months, and the long-term prognosis was "very favorable."
He is in good hands and is looking forward to being able to attend the Tour de France again next summer.
Comeback after hunting accident
The former professional cyclist was the first non-European to win the tour in 1986.
After recovering from a serious hunting accident in which he was fatally injured, he triumphed twice more at the Tour (1989 and 1990).
LeMond's 1989 Tour victory is still the closest in history.
At that time, the Californian beat Frenchman Laurent Fignon by just eight seconds.
LeMond was also world champion twice (1983 and 1989).
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