On Wednesday, seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong announced he was retiring from cycling again, after a two-year comeback. Armstrong first retired from cycling in 2005 after winning his seventh consecutive Tour de France title, then returned to the sport in January 2009.

“I am announcing my retirement from professional cycling in order to devote myself full-time to my family, to the fight against cancer and to leading the foundation I established before I won my first Tour de France,” the 39-year-old champion cyclist said in a news release. “My focus now is raising my five children, promoting the mission of LIVESTRONG, and growing entrepreneurial ventures with our great corporate partners in the fight against cancer,” said Armstrong.

Armstrong is still under federal investigation for doping charges. Former teammate Floyd Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France crown, alleged Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs and showed teammates how to beat drug tests. Armstrong has never failed a test and has always denied all cheating allegations.

In his return to the Tour de France in 2009, Armstrong finished third.  In last year’s Tour de France, he finished 23rd after a few crashes. In what appears to be his final race, he finished 67th at last month’s Tour Down Under in Australia. “I can’t say I have any regrets,” said Armstrong. “It’s been an excellent ride. I really thought I was going to win another tour.”

written by Chalk \\ tags: cycling, Floyd Landis, Lance Armstrong, Lance Armstrong case, Lance Armstrong charges, Lance Armstrong retire, LiveStrong, Tour de France, Tour Down Under