Former road racing cyclist Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France seven consecutive times, now lives a quieter life following the doping scandal.
Armstrong was one of the most famous athletes in the world before the doping scandal took over his career.
His entire achievements and reputation came into question when he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in 2012.
Initially, he denied the accusations but later admitted in a 2013 interview with Oprah Winfrey to using testosterone, human growth hormone, EPO, and undergoing blood transfusions.
January 2013 Lance Armstrong admits to taking Performance enhancing drugs, here's a rare picture of him when he was 15. pic.twitter.com/g0einNEVTJ
— betclever (@betclever_) April 9, 2017
In the interview with Oprah Winfrey, Lance answered several yes-or-no questions, which officially revealed that he had made mistakes by using banned substances. He said;
It’s hard to get into that without, and again, I don’t want to, I don’t want to accuse anybody else. I don’t want to necessarily talk about anybody else. I made my decisions. They are my mistakes. And I am sitting here today to acknowledge that and to say I’m sorry for that.
For decades, Lance denied the doping scandal until 2012, when he finally admitted it. Many people also say it was the best way to confess, as he first revealed the scandal in an interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Following his confession in 2012, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) stripped Lance of all his Tour de France victories from 1999 to 2005.
Not only did he lose the titles, but he was also banned from professional cycling for life.
As a result, his records and achievements from that period are officially nullified, and he no longer holds those titles in the official records.
Former Road Racing Cyclist Lance Armstrong Now Lives a Simple Life with Wife and Children in Austin!
Now 53 years old, Armstrong resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Anna Hansen, and their two children, alongside his three children from his previous marriage to Kristin Richard.
He remains active in the public eye through various ventures, including his podcast THEMOVE, and The Forward.
Beyond media, Armstrong has invested in various businesses. He owns a coffee shop named “Juan Pelota Café” and a bike shop called “Mellow Johnny’s” in Austin, Texas.
Additionally, Armstrong continues to support cancer-related causes through the Livestrong Foundation, which he founded in 1997.
Although he resigned from the foundation in 2012 following the doping scandal, the organization remains active in providing support to individuals affected by cancer.
Most recently, in May 2025, Armstrong participated in the Jan Ullrich Cycling Festival in Bad Dürrheim, Germany, alongside Ullrich.
The event allowed fans to ride with the former rivals, highlighting their reconciled relationship and shared passion for cycling.
Jan Ullrich and Lance Armstrong, 20 years after. 🤝 Good to see them together, healthy and enjoying cycling. For me, they will always be two legends of this sport. pic.twitter.com/8GQwQvSxDI
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) September 27, 2021
Despite having some dark times in the past, Lance now seems to live a happy life with his family, trying to avoid negativity, especially alcohol, and helping others with similar addictions.
In Case You Don’t Know
- In 2023, Lance participated in the reality TV show Stars on Mars, where celebrities simulate life on Mars.
- Before his cycling fame, Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996, which had spread to his lungs and brain.
- Lance popularized the yellow Livestrong wristbands, which became a global symbol of cancer awareness.
