WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong won’t compete in a New Zealand triathlon next month because of a sore left knee.
The American cyclist planned to compete in a sprint triathlon at the Blue Lakes multisports festival at Rotorua on the North Island on Jan. 29.
In a phone interview Wednesday, Armstrong says he has quit running for now because of the sore knee, forcing him to skip the triathlon. He says the left knee has cartilage damage and eventually will require surgery.
The injury does not interfere with his cycling. Armstrong still plans to compete in the Tour Down Under cycling race in Australia that runs Jan. 16-23.
Armstrong has indicated the Australian race will likely be his last professional cycling race outside the United States.
