Home
News
In Focus
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more »Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
Restaurants get off to a quick start thanks to game-changing policies
High service charges on event ticket refunds call for further regulation
Sunday
- Subscribe
Related News
Armstrong to support US mate at Giro race
Source: Agencies |
May 7, 2009, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LANCE Armstrong committed himself on Tuesday to riding in support of teammate Levi Leipheimer in the Giro d'Italia, saying he is not ready to contend for the title.
The seven-time Tour de France winner, who broke his collarbone in a crash in March, said he hopes to win at least one stage of the Giro but the overall title is out of reach.
"While at the beginning of the year my objective was to contend, with the crash I'm not sure I still can," Armstrong said at a meeting with Italy's foreign minister, Franco Frattini, in Rome to support his campaign against cancer.
"Before that I was ahead of schedule. Now we're behind schedule. I have to go into the Giro knowing I'm not a contender for the overall. But we have a rider who is going for the overall, and I'll ride for him."
Armstrong already helped Astana teammate Leipheimer win the Tour of Gila in New Mexico last week, and the Tour of California at the beginning of the season.
Still, Armstrong was coy when asked what will happen if Astana is in position to win the team time trial in Venice that opens the Giro on Saturday. The first rider that crosses the line for the winning team will take the leader's pink jersey.
"I don't know. Johan decides that," Armstrong said, referring to Johan Bruyneel, Astana's team director, who also guided the American in his Tour de France victories.
The seven-time Tour de France winner, who broke his collarbone in a crash in March, said he hopes to win at least one stage of the Giro but the overall title is out of reach.
"While at the beginning of the year my objective was to contend, with the crash I'm not sure I still can," Armstrong said at a meeting with Italy's foreign minister, Franco Frattini, in Rome to support his campaign against cancer.
"Before that I was ahead of schedule. Now we're behind schedule. I have to go into the Giro knowing I'm not a contender for the overall. But we have a rider who is going for the overall, and I'll ride for him."
Armstrong already helped Astana teammate Leipheimer win the Tour of Gila in New Mexico last week, and the Tour of California at the beginning of the season.
Still, Armstrong was coy when asked what will happen if Astana is in position to win the team time trial in Venice that opens the Giro on Saturday. The first rider that crosses the line for the winning team will take the leader's pink jersey.
"I don't know. Johan decides that," Armstrong said, referring to Johan Bruyneel, Astana's team director, who also guided the American in his Tour de France victories.
- 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.
