Three times winner of the Tour (1986, 1989, 1990), Greg LeMond, who lives in the United States, must celebrate his 61st birthday on June 26.

"I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. Luckily, it's a type of cancer that can be cured, and it's a type of leukemia that's not life-threatening or debilitating either. "LeMond said in a post on his personal website late last week.

"I had been experiencing a few weeks of fatigue which prompted me to undergo a check-up including blood work. After a series of tests and a bone marrow biopsy, which was completed last week, I received my official diagnosis last Friday", explained the ex-double world champion (1983 and 1989).

“The prognosis is very favourable”

"My doctors at the University of Tennessee, in consultation with a team from the Mayo Clinic, have defined a chemotherapy protocol that will start this week. No one ever wants to hear the word 'cancer'. But it's a big relief now. , to know why I felt bad," added LeMond.

"I should be feeling better in a few weeks and in the near future my daily schedule will be little changed and I have been told that in a few months I should be in remission. The long term prognosis is very favourable", said the American champion.

In the immediate future, LeMond will not be able to come to France to follow the race.

He hopes to be able to do this remotely from home.

"I can't wait to return to the Tour next summer," he added, indicating that he would give "in the months to come" news of his health.

During his career, the American was the victim of a serious hunting accident in 1987 and was shot in the body, less than a year after his first success in the Tour.

Greg LeMond (left) congratulates Briton Christopher Froome at the end of the 15th stage of the 100th Tour de France on July 14, 2013 at Mont Ventoux JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Archives

He then won a memorable Tour in 1989, with an 8-second lead over Laurent Fignon (the narrowest gap in the history of the race) and repeated his victory the following year, before stopping his career in 1994 explaining that he suffers from mitochondrial myopathy.

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