It was on this day in 2005 that Lance Armstrong retired from the sport of cycling.  He would call it a career after winning his seventh consecutive Tour de France.

After leaving the Tour so that he could focus on his fight against cancer, Armstrong returned in 1999 to win his first Tour de France title.  Some would question the legitimacy of that victory because of the absence of top riders Jan Ulrich and Marco Pantani, but Armstrong would go on to cement his place among the all-time great cyclists with a record-breaking seven consecutive Tour de France victories.  He would cap off his final Tour de France victory by crossing the line on the Champs-Élysées, 4 minutes, 40 seconds ahead of second place rider Ivan Basso.

Since his retirement, Armstrong has faced relentless scrutiny from the many individuals who believe he used performance enhancing drugs.  He has recently been charged with doping by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.  The charges are based on blood samples taken between 2009 and 2010, as well as testimonials from other cyclists. If he is found guilty, he could be stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and suspended from the sport for life.

Here is a look at Armstrong blowing away Jan Ulrich during a time trial in 2005.

Notable Birthdays

Karl Malone, NBA – Born on July 24, 1963 (age 49) in Summerfield, Louisiana

Barry Bonds, MLB – Born on July 24, 1964 (age 48) in Riverside, California

Rick Fox, NBA – Born on July 24, 1969 (age 43) in Toronto, Canada