Andrew Messick stops short of saying Lance Armstrong can win the Hawaiian Ironman triathlon – but he will not bet against him.
The World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) chief executive calls the decision by the seven-time Tour de France champion to target Hawaii “an extraordinary opportunity” for the sport.
Armstrong finished second overall on the weekend at the Panama 70.3 race – a half-Ironman distance event.
It was the perfect start to his bid to qualify for the October Hawaiian Ironman – triathlon’s most famous race.
The WTC owns the Ironman brand and their deal with Armstrong has been big news in triathlon.
“People are talking about `how well can he do, can he compete’?,” Messick said.
“I wouldn’t bet against him.
“You don’t have to work very hard to envision him coming off the bike in first place.
“Who knows what happens after that? Everyone wants to find out.”
Armstrong competed in Panama only a few days since an American federal investigation abruptly ended without any charges being filed.
The investigation was related to long-standing speculation that Armstrong doped during his legendary cycling career.
Armstrong polarises opinion in cycling, but Messick is not worried about the debate.
“There are a vocal minority of people who have made up their mind and there isn’t anything anyone is going to be able to say that’s going to change it,” Messick said.
“For many, many, many other people, he’s an extraordinary athlete, he’s an extraordinary symbol.
“Frankly, when my Dad had cancer, he like many other cancer survivors took enormous comfort in Lance.
“My Dad couldn’t care less about what he did or didn’t do in the 2002 Tour de France.”
Messick added all triathlon, not just the WTC, could benefit from Armstrong’s profile.
Armstrong was a richly-talented teenage triathlete before he switched to road cycling.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity, maybe the best we’ve ever had, to use the fact that you have this incredibly-iconic athlete who’s embracing our sport,” Messick said.
“(We can) tell a story about triathlon, tell a story about what it can do for you and bring more people under our tent.
“I’m incredibly hopeful we’ll all be able to maximise that.”
