Greg LeMond, the American cyclist who claimed three Tour de France victories, has announced his diagnosis for leukaemia.
The 60-year-old released a statement on Monday revealing he had symptoms of fatigue before a check-up confirmed the “treatable” cancer.
“I have been diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukaemia,” he said.
“Fortunately, it is a type of cancer that is treatable, and it is a type of leukaemia that is not life-threatening or debilitating. Following a series of tests and a bone marrow biopsy, which was completed last week, I received my formal diagnosis last Friday.
“No-one ever wants to hear the word cancer but, admittedly, there is great relief, now, to know why I was feeling poorly.”
LeMond won the Tour in 1986, 1989 and 1990 - and stands as the only American to win the historic race after Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis were stripped of their crowns. LeMond has long been a strong anti-doping voice in the sport.
In between his first and second titles, he recovered from life-threatening injuries after being accidentally shot by a friend while on a turkey hunting trip in his native California.
