You don’t have to sing the praises of Twitter to Lance Armstrong. He already knows that the social media site is a great way to get your message across. Like any smart marketer, he also knows how to use it.

Armstrong announced that he will “provide real-time updates from the 2009 Tour de France which begins July 4 and runs through July 26.” He says he wanted to make sure people could get a sense of the tour directly from him via his unedited updates. All updates will be make available though the Livestrong.com site.

Image: Zuma Press

Lance Armstrong added a new bundle of joy to his world last night. He and girlfriend Anna Hansen had a baby boy they named Max. And where did Lance choose to announce this momentous event? On Twitter. Of course.

He “tweeted” (with the help of dad, natch) “Wassup, world? My name is Max Armstrong and I just arrived. My Mommy is healthy and so am I!”

This is Lance’s fourth child. I have to wonder now what Sheryl Crow is thinking. On one hand, she’s probably happy for Lance. I mean, they dated, were in love. I’m sure she’s happy for the guy. On the other hand, one reason they broke up was because he wasn’t ready to have a kid with her. And not long after they divorced he has one with someone else. Has to make you feel a little perturbed. Sheryl adopted a beautiful baby boy herself so I think if she did have any animosity, she’s quickly over it.

We wish Lance and Anna congratulations on their new arrival!

Image: Zuma Press

Sometimes it really IS just a matter of timing. Or, to put it more appropriately, it’s not you, Sheryl Crow, it’s me. At least, that’s what Lance Armstrong is saying about their relationship three years after the fact.

Lance says at the time he and Sheryl got engaged in 2005, she was just about to turn 44 and wanted a baby. A baby! A baby baby baby! Her biological clock was in overdrive. Lance says she wanted kids lik now and he already had three. “Yet we’re up against her biological clock — that pressure is what cracked it.”

He said they were at different points in their life and that he just wasn’t ready for more kids right at that moment. However, a mere two years later, he apparently IS ready to have kids. His girlfriend, Anna Hansen, is pregnant and their baby is due next month.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

According to this news article I came across early this evening [I know it's a bit dated. Gah.], Lance Armstrong did verify that it’s Ivan Basso who’ll be signing to Discovery Channel.

I distinctly remember the advert Armstrong made for it and it’s quite a surprise to finally learn that it’s finally over. Sigh. Anyway, I found the advert funny.

28 year-old Basso, the 2006 Giro d’Italia champion, will now ride with the American team that rode with Armstrong in most of his Tour de France wins.

It’s quite unfortunate that along with this memorable event, it’s closely followed by intrigues since Basso is allegedly involved in Operación Puerto, which led Basso not to participate in the Tour and tended to legal matters.

Now that he’s moving to train with a new team, there’s an established to-do list, which involves a DNA test, just so to clear his name from the controversy.

Hmmm.

I wonder what’ll happen if results turn against his favour. Will that mean he’s disqualified? Either I’m affected by lack of sleep [yea, I've been working for the past 21 hours...] that’s why I missed the mention or it just wasn’t stated.

Can anyone help me out?