Lance looks back at Jan Ullrich at the base of Alpe d'Huez. TdF 2001

tough (tuf)
adj. tough·er, tough·est

1. Able to withstand great strain without tearing or breaking; strong and resilient: a tough all-weather fabric.
2. Hard to cut or chew: tough meat.
3. Physically hardy; rugged: tough mountaineers; a tough cop.
4. Severe; harsh: a tough winter.
5. 1. Aggressive; pugnacious.
   2. Inclined to violent or disruptive behavior; rowdy or rough: a tough street group.
6. Demanding or troubling; difficult: skipping the toughest questions.
7. Strong-minded; resolute: a tough negotiator.
8. Slang. Unfortunate; too bad: a tough break.
9. Slang. Fine; great.

I used to think I knew what tough was - working out in 40°C or -30°C Toronto weather or sucking it up and doing that 12th hill repeat as fast as the first. I also used to think I knew who was tough - "The World's Strongest Man" competitors, Stone Cold Steve Austin, or maybe even a pre-rape Mike Tyson. But I was wrong on both counts. The toughest man alive is Lance Armstrong. Hands down. End of debate.

This is a man who battled testicular cancer which later spread to his lungs and brain, was given a 40% chance of living, and came back to win the Tour de France - 6 times. And if that isn't enough to convince you - after going head-to-head with a car and fracturing the C-7 vertebrae in his neck, he competed in the Olympics 3 months later. In this day and age when guys like Al Leiter miss nearly 3 years of baseball due to a blister on his finger, this guy is out there getting run over by cars, breaking his neck, and is still raring to go.

Lance is one tough hombre.

To learn more about Lance Armstrong, visit his website http://www.lancearmstrong.com.