Once a superstar in the world of cycling and one of its most interesting personalities, Lance Armstrong is known for pushing his body to the extreme, intimidating his rivals, and breaking the rules. Armstrong's many achievements were consistently dogged by allegations of doping and secrecy, allegations to which the cyclist ultimately acknowledged. Lance takes a long, hard, objective look at Armstrong's life—before his admission of guilt—both on and off the bike, beginning with his humble origins and his single mom's struggle for survival. John Wilcockson provides numerous details of how Armstrong's legendary training, a near-fatal bout with cancer, and battles with the media drove him to reach the pinnacle of his sport. Drawing on dozens of interviews with teammates, friends, and family—many who spoke publicly for the first time—Wilcockson delivers a biography on the life of this controversial athlete.