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Lance's Romances Haven't Hurt His Cause—Yet

Cyclist's fight against cancer may be overshadowed by gossip pages

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 22, 2008 9:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – Will the real Lance Armstrong please stand up? The seven-time Tour de France champ and cancer research advocate is also a serial dater whose affairs light up gossip pages. But so far, trysts with Ashley Olsen and Kate Hudson have not hurt the cancer survivor's higher cause—which includes testifying before Congress and selling 70 million yellow Livestrong bracelets.

If gossip gives Armstrong "more time on the screen, for me, that just gets a little bit more out there about cancer," said one cancer advocate. But Armstrong knows his images could clash: He canceled a New York Times interview because "it became clear to me that you were going to discuss my private life." So far, though, "the boy has been cut a lot of slack," one cyclist said, "because of the good he does.”

 Lance Armstrong, right, meets cancer patient Marie McKinney during a tour at Brackenridge Hospital Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, in Austin, Texas.
Lance Armstrong, right, meets cancer patient Marie McKinney during a tour at Brackenridge Hospital Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, in Austin, Texas.   (AP Photo)
Former U.S. Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, right, talks with South Korean cancer patients during their meeting  in Seoul, Friday, Aug. 31, 2007.
Former U.S. Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, right, talks with South Korean cancer patients during their meeting in Seoul, Friday, Aug. 31, 2007.   (AP Photo)
Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow in 2005.
Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow in 2005.   (Getty Images)
Lance Armstrong and ex-fiancee Sheryl Crow.
Lance Armstrong and ex-fiancee Sheryl Crow.   (Getty Images)
Armstrong, center, testifies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee during a hearing on the challenges and opportunities for fighting cancer, Thursday, May 8, 2008.
Armstrong, center, testifies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee during a hearing on the challenges and opportunities for fighting cancer, Thursday, May 8, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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