Discovery is at trail's end; Armstrong's elite bike team disbanding.(Sports)

Byline: JIM VERTUNO - Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas - The Lance Armstrong era in cycling is over.

Citing fractious leadership in the sport, constant doping allegations and the struggles of finding a new sponsor, Armstrong and the owners of his former Discovery Channel team said Friday the squad will disband after this season.

Armstrong said the team was going out on top: Discovery's Alberto Contador of Spain won the team's eighth Tour de France title in nine years last month.

"It's a sad day for cycling. Certainly a sad day for American cycling," Armstrong said. "We're proud of our record."

The decision shuts down the sport's …