Armstrong says Tour as good as over for him
Source: Agencies |
July 13, 2010, Tuesday
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LANCE Armstrong promised a shake up in the French Alps, but instead it was the seven-time Tour de France champion feeling shaken after one of his worst ever days racing.
Normally the one punishing others when the Tour hits the harsh mountains, Armstrong found himself on the receiving end, conceding that his ambitions of an eighth Tour title was at a premature end. "The Tour's finished for me," Armstrong said after Luxembourg rider Andy Schleck won the stage to move within 20 seconds of race leader Cadel Evans of Australia.
The 38-year-old Texan finished Sunday's eighth stage in 61st place after laboring in stifling heat, hauling his battered body up mountain passes he used to glide up. In a chaotic and dangerous Tour, Armstrong is more than 13 minutes behind Evans ahead of yesterday's much-needed rest day.
"I have cuts everywhere," Armstrong said. "Biggest problem is the left hip, which for riding is not the best."
Dented pride should also be added to Armstrong's list of ailments. He crossed the finish line with an unusual air of resignation.
Reminiscence mode
Rather than think about Tour win No. 8, Armstrong is already in reminiscence mode with two full weeks still to go until Paris, whose streets Armstrong used to swagger down swilling Champagne.
"No tears from me. I've had a lot of years here where it's been very different, so I'm not going to dwell on today," Armstrong said. "Really try and appreciate my time here, and the fact I'm not coming back here."
The fist-pumping, hands-in-the-air showmanship of Armstrong's glory era from 1999-2005 were faded memories after a ferocious day of climbing that proved too much for the Texan's aging legs and weary mind.
Armstrong is in no doubt that, with a bad hip and a deficit of 13 minutes, 26 seconds on Evans, and with more punishing Alpine climbs to come and the even-harder Pyrenees, he may as well enjoy his last days in France.
"Look around, appreciate the fans and know that it's not going to be my year," he said.
Such defeatist talk would have seemed truly astonishing a few years ago. But long gone are the days when Armstrong and his "Blue Train", the name given to his former US Postal teammates, would control the race. "During his period of domination, in the first mountain stage in high altitudes, he'd hit hard," Tour director Christian Prudhomme said.
Meanwhile, Australian Simon Gerrans of Team Sky, pulled out of the Tour de France. "Just had a scan that confirmed what I feared, I broke my arm when I crashed after 7km of yesterday's stage. TdF is finished," Gerrans wrote on Twitter.
Normally the one punishing others when the Tour hits the harsh mountains, Armstrong found himself on the receiving end, conceding that his ambitions of an eighth Tour title was at a premature end. "The Tour's finished for me," Armstrong said after Luxembourg rider Andy Schleck won the stage to move within 20 seconds of race leader Cadel Evans of Australia.
The 38-year-old Texan finished Sunday's eighth stage in 61st place after laboring in stifling heat, hauling his battered body up mountain passes he used to glide up. In a chaotic and dangerous Tour, Armstrong is more than 13 minutes behind Evans ahead of yesterday's much-needed rest day.
"I have cuts everywhere," Armstrong said. "Biggest problem is the left hip, which for riding is not the best."
Dented pride should also be added to Armstrong's list of ailments. He crossed the finish line with an unusual air of resignation.
Reminiscence mode
Rather than think about Tour win No. 8, Armstrong is already in reminiscence mode with two full weeks still to go until Paris, whose streets Armstrong used to swagger down swilling Champagne.
"No tears from me. I've had a lot of years here where it's been very different, so I'm not going to dwell on today," Armstrong said. "Really try and appreciate my time here, and the fact I'm not coming back here."
The fist-pumping, hands-in-the-air showmanship of Armstrong's glory era from 1999-2005 were faded memories after a ferocious day of climbing that proved too much for the Texan's aging legs and weary mind.
Armstrong is in no doubt that, with a bad hip and a deficit of 13 minutes, 26 seconds on Evans, and with more punishing Alpine climbs to come and the even-harder Pyrenees, he may as well enjoy his last days in France.
"Look around, appreciate the fans and know that it's not going to be my year," he said.
Such defeatist talk would have seemed truly astonishing a few years ago. But long gone are the days when Armstrong and his "Blue Train", the name given to his former US Postal teammates, would control the race. "During his period of domination, in the first mountain stage in high altitudes, he'd hit hard," Tour director Christian Prudhomme said.
Meanwhile, Australian Simon Gerrans of Team Sky, pulled out of the Tour de France. "Just had a scan that confirmed what I feared, I broke my arm when I crashed after 7km of yesterday's stage. TdF is finished," Gerrans wrote on Twitter.
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