Jt0323
☠️ Banned ☠️
Armstrong is in the lead by 53 Sec
NaboCane said:Anyone know if today's leg is over?
Ferretsquig said:You can watch it every morning on Outdoor Life Network if you are so inclined. Different starting times but the finish is all that matters anyways and thats usually around 11.
NaboCane said:Not at work I can't. :D
Not to mention that, excited as I am about Lance's quest, watching hour after hour of bicycle racing would be like watching yeast flocculate.
I only want the results.
Posted: Thursday July 14, 2005 11:06AM; Updated: Thursday July 14, 2005 11:40AM
DIGNE-LES-BAINS, France (AP) -- Lance Armstrong retained the overall lead but lost a key teammate in a crash as the Tour de France headed out of the Alps following David Moncoutie's victory in Thursday's 12th stage.
Moncoutie became the 15th Frenchman since World War II to win on Bastille Day, France's national holiday. It was his second stage win in five Tours...
...Armstrong cruised in with his main rivals in a group more than 10 minutes back to finish 41st. His lead over second-place Mickael Rasmussen of Denmark stayed at 38 seconds, with French rider Christophe Moreau still third overall, 2:34 behind...
...But Armstrong took a big hit when teammate Manuel Beltran crashed and abandoned the race after falling on the Col des Demoiselles Coiffees climb early in the stage.
He got back on his bike but quit after receiving treatment from a Tour doctor, Discovery Channel team spokesman Jogi Muller said. Beltran was later taken to hospital but tests revealed no broken bones or fractures. He will be kept overnight as a precaution and is expected to be released Friday.
Beltran is a specialist mountain climber and will be missed by Armstrong when the race heads into the Pyrenees on Saturday. He has been part of Armstrong's Tour-winning team since 2003.
MONTPELLIER, France (Reuters) - Young Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde quit the Tour de France midway through an uneventful 13th stage between Miramas and Montpellier Friday.
The 24-year-old who beat race leader Lance Armstrong in a sprint finish in Tuesday's mountainous 10th stage at Courchevel fell to the rear of the peloton suffering with a knee injury.
Valverde began the day fifth in the overall standings and was wearing the white jersey as the leading young rider.
Armstrong, favorite to clinch a seventh Tour victory, was safely tucked into the peloton with 75km of the 173.5-km stage left, four minutes behind a five-man escape group.
AX-3 DOMAINES, France (Reuters) - Heat, the Pyrenees and his rivals could not get the better of Lance Armstrong, who took a giant step toward an unprecedented seventh Tour de France victory in Saturday's 220.5-km 14th stage....
Armstrong wore out his rivals one after the other to sprint for second place, 56 seconds behind Totschnig and strengthen his grip on the overall leader's yellow jersey.
Only Italian Ivan Basso was able to stay with the six-times champion. Third overall last year, the CSC team leader lost a couple of seconds in the final 200 meters and finished third.
Armstrong's arch-rival, Germany's Jan Ullrich, showed he was still a force to be reckoned with, staying with Discovery Channel team leader and Basso until the final kilometer when the Texan stood up on his pedals in familiar and punishing fashion...
As usual, the only one with enough strength to attack on the final climb was Armstrong, who proved the heat, which had cost him dearly two years ago, was not such a handicap.
Sunday's 205.5-km 15th stage from Lezat to Pla d'Adet could be even more gruelling with four first category climbs, and the beyond category ascent to the finish.
Overall, Armstrong leads Dane Michael Rasmussen by one minute 41 seconds while Basso is third, 2:46 adrift.
Den54 said:The man is a machine!!
The greatest athlete of all time.