Greg LeMond, the only American to appear on the Tour de France winners, has announced that he is giving up coming to the Grande Boucle this year because of the treatment he must follow for leukemia.
Three-time winner of the Tour (1986, 1989, 1990), Greg LeMond, who lives in the United States, is due to celebrate his 61st birthday on June 26.
To discover
The general classification of the Tour de France 2021
Tour de France 2022: discover the map and the route of the next edition
“
I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia.
Fortunately, it is a type of cancer that can be cured, and it is a type of leukemia that is not life-threatening nor disabling
,” LeMond said in a post on his personal site at the end of last week.
“
The prognosis is very favourable
”
“
I had experienced a few weeks of fatigue which prompted me to submit to a check-up including blood tests.
After a series of tests and a bone marrow biopsy, which was completed last week, I received my official diagnosis last Friday
”, explained the ex-double world champion (1983 and 1989) .
Read alsoHinault-LeMond, a yellow jersey for two
“
My doctors at the University of Tennessee, in consultation with a team from the Mayo Clinic, have defined a chemotherapy protocol which will begin this week.
No one ever wants to hear the word "cancer".
But it's a big relief now to know why I felt bad
," added LeMond, who should "
feel better in a few weeks
."
"
The long-term prognosis is very favorable
," said the American champion.
Greg LeMond (left) and Laurent Fignon during the 1989 Tour de France. Imago / Panoramic
In the immediate future, LeMond will therefore not be able to travel to France to follow the Tour de France.
He hopes to be able to do this remotely from home.
"
I can't wait to return to the Tour next summer
," he added, indicating that he would give "
in the months to come
" news of his health.
The American had put an end to his career in 1994, explaining that he suffered from mitochondrial myopathy.
