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What's next for the Tour's best?
01:48 AM CDT on Monday, July 25, 2005

By CHIP BROWN / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN – John Korioth knows Lance Armstrong like few others.

Korioth was the best man at Armstrong's wedding to Kristin Richard. An avid cyclist, Korioth has been on countless training rides with Armstrong in which
they spot a city limits sign outside Austin and sprint to it, with the winner taking a few bucks from the loser. Korioth is also Armstrong's partner in a bar
called Six in the Fourth Street entertainment district.

Korioth would love to believe Armstrong will be true to his word about retirement. That Armstrong will simply come back to Central Texas after winning his
seventh straight Tour de France title and kick back. But he knows better.

Armstrong has said he plans to relax at his Dripping Springs ranch with girlfriend Sheryl Crow and his three children from his marriage to Richard – Luke, 5,
and 3-year-old twin daughters Isabelle and Grace. But Korioth fears that Armstrong will immediately throw himself into countless new endeavors, leaving
little time for a bike ride with his pals.

"I'm calling him out," Korioth said. "I have a hard time believing he'll ride his bike much. I tell people he's going to get fat because he won't have time to
ride. I'm trying to motivate him to get on the bike because, at the end of the day, that's my riding buddy."

There's work to be done

Armstrong's daybook does appear to be packed in the near future. He already has business relationships with companies such as Nike, Subaru, Trek, Giro,
Oakley, Sirius Satellite Radio and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company – endorsement contracts that pay him roughly $15 million per year.

Sirius airs a show Sundays at 8 p.m. called Armstrong Radio, in which Armstrong talks about his experiences, banters with guests and plays his favorite
music.

He has recently added a partnership with 24 Hour Fitness and will soon be preparing to become an on-air talent for the Discovery Channel, which already
has commemorative yellow jerseys available at www.discovery.com.

"There are a lot of genres Discovery does that Lance would be a wonderful host or on-air personality for," said Discovery spokesman David Leavy, adding
that the network will sit down with Armstrong in the next two to three weeks to discuss programming.

"Lance could be tied into documentary-type shows on fitness, better living, cancer survivorship and the science of sports, such as how technology is
changing sports. We could have Lance travel the world and serve as a host for a travel show. There is a lot of factual programming – as opposed to fictional
programming – we think he can be a talent on our network."

Armstrong has two years left on his contract with Discovery. Dan Osipow of Tailwind Sports, a co-owner of the channel's cycling team, said he expects
Armstrong to continue working with the team in an advisory role along with team director Johan Bruyneel.

"I could see Lance helping to bring along the young talent on the team," Osipow said. "Lance is a part-owner, and he's perfectly suited to advise our riders
on how to prepare and compete. I could see him riding in the team car during next year's Tour with Johan."

Armstrong is also helping launch a line of clothing for Nike called "10/2," which represents the day in 1996 (Oct. 2) that he was diagnosed with testicular
cancer.

"It's the day my life changed forever," he said. "It's the day I really learned what it's like to be a champ and what it's like to truly make sacrifices and build a
team.

"We plan on making functional, comfortable clothing that people wear in everyday life, not just sports clothing. It's a dream for me to partner with a
company like Nike. We don't have to look any further than the 50 million yellow 'Livestrong' wristbands they've produced to help fight cancer."

Armstrong also plans to spend more time focusing on the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which has donated more than $14 million for cancer research and
community grants since its inception in 1997.

'An athlete for life'

Crow is expected to go out on tour this fall in support of her new album Wildflower. The album's title track was inspired by Armstrong. Armstrong has said
he plans to go out on tour with Crow.

Despite the taunts from Korioth, Armstrong says he won't get fat in retirement. He has made frequent quips about the post-career weight gain of three-time
Tour de France winner Greg LeMond. LeMond and Armstrong used to be friends but have fallen out of touch since last year, when LeMond all but accused
Armstrong of doping.

"There's another American who won a few Tours who put on a few pounds," Armstrong said. "That won't be me. I love to work out. I love to ride the bike. I
consider myself an athlete for life. I don't want to be someone who had a great sports career and dies at 60 because he let himself go.

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"It sets a good example for my kids and the cancer community. I can't imagine waking up, looking in the mirror and knowing I can't lose a bunch of weight
overnight."

Among the things Armstrong won't be doing in retirement – not immediately anyway – are playing golf and competing in Ironman triathlons. He used to golf
but says he has quit for good. ("Why waste your time," he said, "at something you're terrible at?")

About triathlons, in which he competed before focusing on cycling, Armstrong said, "to train for it and try to win an Ironman means the same thing I'm doing
now: five, six hours on a bike or working out. I might want a little break from that right now."

Korioth just hopes there's time for a few sprints to city limits signs.

"I know he won't be able to sit still, because Lance has never been able to sit still for long," Korioth said. "All I'm asking for is a little time on his bike with
his buddies."

E-mail chipbrown@dallasnews.com

LANCE'S PLANS

What's next for seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong:

Spending time with his three kids

Relaxing at ranch in Dripping Springs

Having a drink at his new bar, Six, in downtown Austin

Promoting new Nike clothing line

On-air talent for Discovery Channel

Adviser to Discovery Channel riders

Going out on tour with rocker girlfriend Sheryl Crow this fall

Focusing on the Lance Armstrong Foundation

Continuing his Sunday night show on Sirius Satellite Radio

What's not next for Armstrong:

Playing golf

Competing in Ironman triathlons

Getting fat

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