These things in themselves would already be enough to vault Armstrong to the top of the chart in terms of athleticism. But he did it less than three years after being given a 40% chance to live by his doctors once the disease spread to his brain. His foundation has raised over $50 million for cancer research and help for people with the disease. He has said, "cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me." He's provided inspiration for millions with cancer by showing them it can be beaten, something almost unheard of nine years ago.
Now instead of everyone knowing someone who has died from cancer, more and more people know someone who has beaten it. It's still an awful disease, and people still die daily, but behind someone who can serve as a rallying point for suvivorship, there's hope. This is the main reason Lance is a hero. Not because of what he's accomplished on the bike, but because of what he's accomplished off of it.
People used the terms "Tour de Lance," "Seven is Heaven," and whatever else when talking about Armstrong and the race. But it's not something that can be minimized down to cliches and sound bites.
