He didn't win the Reuters poll of sports journalists this year, but Lance Armstrong walked off with best male athlete of the year from the American journalists polled by the Associated Press. Armstrong received 51 first-place votes far ahead of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning with 17 first-place votes.

Lance wins AP award for third year running

Armstrong won a record-breaking sixth consecutive Tour in July. He joined Michael Jordan (1991-93) as the only athletes selected three straight times since the honour was first awarded in 1931.

Armstrong won’t reveal whether he’ll race the 2005 Tour de France until May.

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