Armstrong, Bush discuss cancer research, not Iraq

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) – Cycling superstar Lance
Armstrong pressed President Bush to boost federal spending on
cancer research during a visit to his ranch, but the two did
not discuss the Iraq war, which Armstrong opposes.

Armstrong, a cancer survivor and seven-time winner of the
Tour de France, was quoted on ABC’s “This Week” as saying he
set his own “one-day record” for lobbying for money. Bush
promised to follow up, he said.

The president, whose favorite sport is mountain biking,
went with Armstrong on a 17-mile bike ride on Saturday through
the sunflower fields and canyons of Bush’s 1,600-acre
(640-hectare) Texas ranch. They later went for a swim and had
lunch.

In an indication that Armstrong did not overtake the
president in the bike ride, a White House spokesman said the
cycling champion was careful to respect “the first rule of
biking.”

“That old boy can go,” Armstrong said on “This Week.” “I
didn’t think he’d punish himself that much, but he did.”

Bush and Armstrong have been friends for years but they
differ on a number of political issues, including Iraq and
abortion rights.