Armstrong insists he still has the spirit of a fighter
Source: Agencies |
July 22, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LANCE Armstrong showed he had the "spirit of a fighter" after he left many of his young rivals trailing behind during the gruelling 199.5-km 16th stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old, competing for the last time at the Tour where he won a record seven titles, attacked almost from the gun as he climbed the passes of Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque before finishing sixth.
With his locket swinging around his bare chest as he gasped for air during the punishing ascents, Armstrong led the way for most of the day but was eventually overtaken as he closed in on the finishing line.
"I'm alive, I trained hard. I'm not the best guy in the race but still have the spirit of a fighter," Armstrong told reporters by his RadioShack team bus as sweat dripped down his neck.
Yellow jersey holder Alberto Contador, Armstrong's fierce rival last year, said he would have liked his former teammate to win the stage.
"It reminded me the 'old' Armstrong, I would have been pleased if he had won," the defending champion told reporters.
The American, however, took the time to soak up the support of the thousands of fans lining up the French roads.
"They don't have to come to the Tour, they don't have to fly from all over the world and stand on a hot road side but they do and I appreciate it," said Armstrong, who was cheered along the way.
"This entire Tour the fans have been really nice to me and very supportive and today we're out there, it's a small group, so they can be close to you, touch you."
With the end of his career now in sight, Armstrong was already looking forward to spending some days at the beach with his family. "Lance Armstrong is over in about four or five days," he said.
The 38-year-old, competing for the last time at the Tour where he won a record seven titles, attacked almost from the gun as he climbed the passes of Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque before finishing sixth.
With his locket swinging around his bare chest as he gasped for air during the punishing ascents, Armstrong led the way for most of the day but was eventually overtaken as he closed in on the finishing line.
"I'm alive, I trained hard. I'm not the best guy in the race but still have the spirit of a fighter," Armstrong told reporters by his RadioShack team bus as sweat dripped down his neck.
Yellow jersey holder Alberto Contador, Armstrong's fierce rival last year, said he would have liked his former teammate to win the stage.
"It reminded me the 'old' Armstrong, I would have been pleased if he had won," the defending champion told reporters.
The American, however, took the time to soak up the support of the thousands of fans lining up the French roads.
"They don't have to come to the Tour, they don't have to fly from all over the world and stand on a hot road side but they do and I appreciate it," said Armstrong, who was cheered along the way.
"This entire Tour the fans have been really nice to me and very supportive and today we're out there, it's a small group, so they can be close to you, touch you."
With the end of his career now in sight, Armstrong was already looking forward to spending some days at the beach with his family. "Lance Armstrong is over in about four or five days," he said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
