Daily
stages of the Tour de France. Click on any day for a complete report. Other
Tour links will also be added as they become available. Other
Racing News
Stage 8
Armstrong
takes giant leap but Julich's not over moon
By Francois Thomazeau
Lance Armstrong of the US sprints to the finish line of the 56.5 kms
individual time trial 8th stage of the Tour de France cycling race
July 11. Armstrong clocked the best time and captured the yellow
jersey of overall leader. cp/Photo by Jacky Naegelen REUTERS |
METZ, France, July 11
- American Lance Armstrong regained the overall lead in the Tour de
France on Sunday when he won a 56.5 kms time trial at an average speed
of nearly 50 kph, one of the most impressive performances in the
discipline.
Armstrong clocked one hour,
eight minutes and 36 seconds to beat Swiss Alex Zuelle by 58 seconds
(1:09:34) with Frenchman Christophe Moreau third in 1:10:41 in the
eighth stage.
Armstrong, who won the
Tour's prologue eight days ago, humbled all his rivals in an
action-packed stage to become the first U.S. rider to win a major
individual time trial on the Tour since three-times winner Greg LeMond
10 years ago.
"I'm dead now. I could
not ride another metre," he said.
By contrast compatriot Bobby
Julich's hopes of winning the race were destroyed in a bad crash.
Julich, who was third
overall last year, slipped off the course at a speed of almost 90 kph
in a descent, 30 kms after the start from the eastern city of Metz.
The American, who had based
all his season on winning the Tour, broke ribs and injured his back,
doctors said. The Cofidis team leader was taken to hospital in Metz
for further tests.
World time trial champion
Abraham Olano also fell in a turn in the same descent.
But the Spaniard suffered
more psychological pain since Armstrong overtook him shortly after the
middle of the course, despite starting two minutes behind him.
The Texan, whose career
almost came to an end two years ago because of testicular cancer,
confirmed his spectacular recovery. He now looks strong enough to
match LeMond by winning the Tour.
"Of course this is a
great victory, but there are still two weeks to go, with the Alps and
the Pyrenees. The race is far from over," Armstrong said.
The American's ability to
compete with the best climbers in the mountain stages, which start on
Tuesday in the Alps after a rest day, could be the key to this year's
race.
"There is still a very
long race ahead of us and I don't have the experience of leading a big
Tour," the 1993 world champion said.
Zuelle was the only rider
capable of challenging Armstrong on the demanding course, with its two
climbs and a strong headwind in the last 10 kilometres.
Zuelle, kicked out of the
race last year for doping with the rest of the Festina team, took
second but the Swiss lost over six minutes in a crash in the first
stage last week.
This fine performance was
more a consolation prize since his chances for overall victory look
slim.
Overall, Armstrong will take
a 2:20 lead over Moreau into Tuesday's first mountain stage, a
213.5-kms ride from Le Grand Bornand to the Italian ski resort of
Sestriere.
Tour de France eight stage placings/overall standings
METZ, France, July 11 - Leading placings in a 56.5
kms time trial, the eighth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday:
1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal one hour eight minutes 36
seconds
2. Alex Zuelle (Switzerland) Banesto 58 secs behind
3. Christophe Moreau (France) Festina 2:05
4. Abraham Olano (Spain) ONCE 2:22
5. Tyler Hamilton (U.S.) U.S. Postal 3:31
6. Chris Boardman (Britain) Credit Agricole 3:32
7. Alvaro Galdeano (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros 3:41
8. Jens Voigt (Germany) Credit Agricole 3:42
9. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) Credit Agricole 3:45
10. Laurent Dufaux (Switzerland) Saeco 3:56
11. Andrea Peron (Italy) ONCE 3:59
12. Daniele Nardello (Italy) Mapei 4:12
13. Santos Gonzalez (Spain) ONCE 4:16
14. Angel Casero (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros 4:35
15. Luis Rodriguez (Spain) ONCE 4:39
16. Magnus Backstedt (Sweden) Credit Agricole 4:42
17. Pavel Tonkov (Russia) Mapei same time
18. Pavel Padrnos (Czech Republic) Lampre 4:56
19. Gilles Maignan (France) Casino 4:58
20. Massimiliano Lelli (Italy) Cofidis 5:13
Leading overall standings:
1. Armstrong 33 hours 34 minutes 16 seconds
2. Moreau 2:20 behind
3. Olano 2:33
4. O'Grady 3:25
5. Galdeano 4:10
6. Voigt same time
7. Dufaux 4:19
8. Peron 4:22
9. Gonzalez 4:37
10. Nardello 4:46
11. Jaan Kirsipuu (Estonia) Casino 4:57
12. Casero 5:01
13. Tonkov 5:10
14. Backstedt 5:15
15. Rodriguez 5:17
16. Stephane Heulot (France) La Francaise de Jeux 5:38
17. Paolo Savoldelli (Italy) Saeco 6:00
18. Kevin Livingston (U.S.) U.S. Postal 6:06
19. Steffen Wesemann (Germany) Telekom 6:08
20. Erik Dekker (Netherlands) Rabobank 6:09
|
