Lance Armstrong is returning to the Tour de France, but something will be a little different. In the 2009 Tour, he will be using SRAM equipment, a change from his usual Shimano. Not only that, but he is reportedly joining the financially troubled Lehman Brother Merchant Bank in acquiring 40 percent of SRAM for $200 million. The deal is still expected to be closed in early October
Armstrong will be racing with Team Astana of Kazakhstan, which uses SRAM components. He will also serve as an adviser to the company. Team Astana had the first-place winner, Alberton Contador, in this year’s Giro of Italy. Both he and the second-place finisher were riding Gruppo RED by SRAM, touted as the first group of components to weigh less than 2 kilograms.
