No sponsor, no Lance

The US Postal team announced their decision to end their sponsorship on Saturday after nine years in the professional cycling peloton.

"Now we need to find new sponsors," Armstrong added. "We're working on it, we have several leads and I hope we'll conclude successfully. Nothing is certain... But if guys like us can't convince sponsors to invest, it'll be very serious for cycling in general."

After several recent doping scandals, notably within the Cofidis and Kelme teams, finding a decent sponsor could be more difficult than expected for the American squad.

"The big danger is that the companies could distance themselves," Armstrong said. "If Cofidis stopped like that, in the middle of the season, it's a big shame. But at the same time these managers had problems with the people with whom they gave three or four chances to redeem themselves."

A professional cyclist for 12 years, Armstrong has seen it all. However, despite his 'been there, done that' aura, certain matters don't cease to surprise him, especially drug use within cycling.

"...The revelations of [Jesus] Manzano surprised me. It was a huge shock. I hope that, in this specific case, the truth will be revealed in court. For the moment, it's just words, there is no proof."

Armstrong is quick to point out that while doping continues to taint the sport, not all cyclists are guilty of it. The American, who is the boss of the peloton, is also considered the spokesperson of the sport.

"We, the riders, unfortunately don't have a structure that allows us to defend ourselves...It's a shame," he said.

"We are also victims of many critics, sometimes founded but many times unfounded. And nobody says anything! Dick Pound has been making remarks for years on cycling, sometimes legitimate but other times untruthful...

"I had enough and I wrote a letter with several arguments, which was well received by the peloton. I still get thanked by the riders."

With just over two months to go before Armstrong aims for a record sixth Tour victory, the notorious Alp d'Huez stage is what occupies most of the Texas native's time.

"It [L'Alpe de Huez] is a physical, technical and tactical challenge... I am taking advantage of testing some new material, which I'm really excited about.

"I'm thinking about climbing it at least 10 times to know every centimetre of it.

"To be honest, I can't wait. It could be a historic day, with an incredible crowd... You'll see on this day that cycling isn't dead yet."

Cycling is not dead -- long live cycling.