Markel Irizar, Unique Bond with Lance Armstrong

Markel Irizar, one of the alleged new signees for Team Radioshack, has special inspiration to join the new team in the peleton.  The Spaniard, from the Basque region, shares a strong and unique bond with Lance Armstrong that only a fight with the “big C” can create.  In 2002, Markel was treated for testicular cancer.  A rider for the Euskaltel-Euskadi team, he succeeded in besting the disease…a disease that he describes as always being associated with death.  His comments about the trials of cancer are full of acknowledgements of support from his family and close friends and he is convinced that the experience has made him stronger, wiser and more focused.

When still a junior, Markel wrote Lance a letter wishing him a speedy recovery when Armstrong was first diagnosed with cancer.  During Markels bout with the disease, Lance Armstrong reciprocated and wrote Irizar, offering support and well wishes in a personal letter.  Markel was touched by the show of support.  During the Criterium International he went to Armstrong’s team bus to finally meet him.  It was there that Armstrong extended a friendly hand and expressed happiness that Markel had overcome the disease.

At 29, Markel is improving each year and obsessed with proving, to himself and the world, that cancer is not debilitating but motivating.  Sound familiar?  His decision to join Team Radioshack has the potential of positioning him for astronomical successes but I bet he’ll agree (as will Lance) that anything he wins cycling will pale in comparison to the race to live strong.

By Todd Huff, staff writer