LANCE ARMSTRONG - ARMSTRONG PAYS TRIBUTE TO SHERYL IN RETIREMENT SPEECH

Cycling champion LANCE ARMSTRONG has announced he'll retire from professional racing after trying for a seventh straight TOUR DE FRANCE this summer (05).

At a news conference yesterday, the 33-year-old athlete paid tribute to his rocker girlfriend SHERYL CROW for sticking by him as he rode to victory for a record-breaking sixth Tour De France last year (04).

Armstrong said, "Sheryl, you've been an amazing woman. For someone who is the queen of rock 'n' roll, you've been a great cycling fan... a great teammate."

Cyclist and cancer survivor Armstrong told fans and journalists the Tour De France will be his last race, and he wants to concentrate on spending more time with his three children and his cancer research charity work.