Victoria Pendleton has called Lance Armstrong a legend of cycling after the record seven time Tour de France winner retired from the sport after this year's event came to an end yesterday.
Victoria Pendleton
Alberto Contador won this year's Tour for the third time with Armstrong finishing 23rd, but his legacy is set to endure after his dominance of cycling from 1999 to 2005 followed his well documented battle and recovery from testicular cancer.
Stotfold cyclist Pendleton, herself a powerhouse of the sport as current world and Olympic track sprint champion, believes the American has done more than anyone to boost the profile of the sport.
"He's a great inspiration for so many cyclists and with [charity] Livestrong he's got a lot of supporters," she said.
"To come back from an illness and really perform at that level is mind blowing, but also, he just seems a great personality and a role model for a lot of people.
"He definitely has encouraged a lot of people into sport and people see him as a very big role model. All the best to him really."
Armstrong came out of retirement in 2009 with the express desire to compete again in the Tour de France but despite not riding to an eighth win, Pendleton still believes he has secured his place in history.
"You don't come across many people that have been so successful over such a long career, especially with such an intense event," she said. "He has made some amazing achievements and he is a cycling hero.
"He'll be a cycling legend whether he retires for the second time for good or whether he comes back, he's still a legend."