Lance Armstrong

 American cyclist Lance Armstrong has firmly established himself in cycling’s record books by sealing a remarkable seventh consecutive Tour de France. It is arguably the greatest sporting achievement ever. There are few sporting events more grueling than cycling’s most famous and prestigious showpiece with its 21 days of tortuous mountain climbs covering over 2,000 kilometres. Armstrong outshone and outpaced his rivals with the dogged determination and grit that also saw him overcome life-threatening cancer. The victory is a fitting finale to the end of his distinguished cycling career. He retired from his sport after the race and goes out in style – at the top.

The start of the final day’s racing had a familiar look about it with Armstrong donning the coveted yellow jersey. His aim was to finish the race in one piece and avoid any crashes that might jeopardize his chances of victory. Hearts fluttered at the approaches into Paris as his teammates slid from their bikes ahead of him in slippery conditions. Armstrong applied his brakes and deftly avoided the heaped bodies and bicycles. Race organizers finished the race early and declared Armstrong as the winner. Jim Ochowizc, head of the USA cycling team, paid tribute to the champion’s “drive and determination to be the best”. Armstrong will now spend some well earned time with his family.

WARM-UPS

1. BICYCLE HISTORY: In pairs / groups, talk about your history with the bicycle. Can you remember the first time you rode a bike? How important are bicycles to you now? What are your happiest or most painful memories on a bicycle? Do you have a bicycle now?

2. QUICK DEBATE: Students A think Lance Armstrong is the greatest sporting hero ever. Students B think someone else is the greatest sporting hero ever. Change partners often.

3. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words are most interesting and which are most boring.

Cycling / record books / Tour de France / determination / rivals / cancer / retirement / yellow jersey / family time

Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently.

4. BICYCLE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with bicycles. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

5. MY DETERMINATION: Write down three things you are determined to do in your life. In pairs / groups, talk about those things. Give each other advice on how you can achieve the things you are determined to do.

6. GRUELING SPORTS: Is the Tour de France the most grueling sporting event? Which of these events do you think are grueling and why? In which of these events would you like to be champion?

1. Tour de France
2. A triathlon
3. Round the world yacht race
4. A 15-day sumo tournament (six times a year)
5. A 5-day game of cricket
6. The soccer World Cup
7. A game of ice hockey
8. A US Master’s golf tournament
9. Other

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

a.	sealing	perseverance
b.	grueling	imperil
c.	dogged	punishing
d.	grit	prized
e.	fitting	wearing
f.	donning	acclaimed
g.	coveted	clinching
h.	jeopardize	skillfully
i.	deftly	apt
j.	paid tribute to	indefatigable

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

a.	firmly	prestigious showpiece
b.	There are few sporting events more	yellow jersey
c.	cycling’s most famous and	in style
d.	outpaced his rivals with the	earned time with his family
e.	goes out	grueling
f.	donning the coveted	avoided the heaped bodies
g.	crashes that might jeopardize	tribute to the champion’s drive
h.	deftly	established himself
i.	paid	dogged determination and grit
j.	spend some well	his chances of victory

DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1. What was your initial reaction to this headline?
2. Did the headline make you want to read the article?
3. What do you think of Lance Armstrong’s victory?
4. Are you interested in the Tour de France?
5. Do you like cycling?
6. Do you think Lance Armstrong’s achievement is the greatest sporting feat ever?
7. What lessons can we learn from Lance Armstrong?
8. What’s your greatest sporting achievement?
9. What’s your greatest achievement?
10. What’s the most grueling thing you’ve ever done?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1. Did you like reading this article?
2. What did you think about what you read?
3. What is the toughest sport in the world?
4. Who do you think is the greatest ever sportsman and woman?
5. In what sport would you like to be a champion and why?
6. What kind of bike crashes have you had in your life?
7. When was the last time your heart fluttered?
8. Are you determined to be the best in anything?
9. If someone paid tribute to you, what do you think they would they say?
10. Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

1. What question would you like to ask about this topic?
2. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
3. Was there a question you didn’t like?
4. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
5. What did you like talking about?
6. Do you want to know how anyone else answered the questions?
7. Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

CHAMPION: Imagine you are a world champion. Decide on your sport. Talk to your partner(s) about your sporting achievements. Use these hints to help you:

As a child

First success

Medals

Training

Most difficult times

Greatest moment

Determination

Motivation

The future

Other