Greg LeMond Plans to Run For Top Job in World Cycling

Former Tour de France winner and former owner of Woodinville-based LeMond Fitness Greg LeMond is planning to run for the top job in world cycling, as the sport battles to recover from the Lance Armstrong doping scandal, he said in an interview published Monday, according to Bicycling Magazine.

Asked by the French newspaper Le Monde whether he was prepared to run for president of the International Cycling Union (UCI) against incumbent Pat McQuaid, the 51-year-old said:

Yes, I’m ready. I’ve been asked and I accept …

It’s now or never. After the shock of the Armstrong affair, there won’t be another chance. If we want to regain the confidence of the public and sponsors, we’ve got to act fast and be tough. If we don’t, cycling will die.

LeMond is now the only American rider to have won cycling’s most famous race after the UCI stripped Armstrong of his record seven Tour wins and career record to 1998 for doping. LeMond won the Tour de France in 1986, 1989, and 1990.

Earlier this year, Hoist Fitness Systems of San Diego acquired LeMond's Woodinville business and moved its headquarters to the San Diego location.

LeMond Fitness was established in 2002.

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