The Last Tour De Lance

I guess some Texans are popular in France...

One last time, "The Star-Spangled Banner" rang out over the Champs-Elysees in honor of Lance Armstrong.

One last time, on the podium against the backdrop of the Arc de Triomphe, the cancer survivor who became the greatest cyclist in Tour de France history slipped into the leader's yellow jersey Sunday. This time, it was the winner's jersey, for an unprecedented seventh consecutive year in the world's most grueling race.

He held his yellow cap over his heart as the American anthem played, and his twin 3-year-old daughters, Grace and Isabelle, wore matching yellow dresses.

"Vive le Tour! Forever," Armstrong said.

Vive Lance, the once but not future champion.

It was the end of Armstrong's amazing career, and in retiring a winner he achieved a rare feat in sports -- going out on top. He said his decision was final and that he walks away with no regrets.

We will, for once, avoid too many jokes about the Tour de France. Granted, the winner wears a yellow jersey, but that's just a cycling thing, as far as we can tell.

Less than nine years ago, the guy was holding a press conference to announce that he was undergoing chemotherapy and his life was in danger. Now, less than a decade later, he's won the world's most grueling sports competition seven consecutive times and plans to retire, at the age of 34. Between that and selling 50 million Livestrong bracelets for cancer research, I'd say he's earned some time off. Of course, his version of "retirement" will probably more active than the lives most of us lead.