Lance Armstrong interested in racing Ironman world champ Chris McCormack

Lance Armstrong is open to the idea of racing Chris McCormack in an unsanctioned, one-on-one race.

McCormack, a two-time Ironman world champion in 2007 and 2010, was seen in an interview on Sunday, Dec. 1, saying he heard Armstrong thought he could win the Ironman world championships.

“You can’t go and make those statements without backing them up,” McCormack told Triathlon. “I said ‘I will race you, mate.’ I don’t even care if there are no accolades—no one around—I just want to race you. Just two old blokes. No excuses.”

“Lance has done some horrible things and some amazing things athletically, but he is still a competitor and I have always been inspired by racing competitors,” McCormack continued. “He’s a prickly personality and I would love to go around and have a crack at him.”

Two days later, on Dec. 3, Armstrong responded on twitter. “Hey @MaccaNow – if you’re serious then gimme a call. Let’s discuss.”

McCormack replied by asking if Armstrong still has the same number, and told him to direct message him over twitter.

Armstrong is not able to race in sanctioned events after being handed a lifetime ban from USADA for admitting to a doping-fueled career on his bike, which propelled him to seven Tour de France titles.

McCormack recently moved to Phuket, Thailand, where he is training and working as executive chairman in a sports resort.