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| Europe |
| Lance Armstrong In Tour de France Lead |
| 2004-07-07 |
| ARRAS, France -- Lance Armstrong took the overall lead Wednesday for the first time at this year’s Tour de France after one of the fastest time trials in race history. His U.S. Postal Service squad dominated the rain-soaked event, giving the Texan the yellow jersey with a 36-second lead over fellow American and former teammate Tyler Hamilton. "It really was a special day for the team," Armstrong said. "The team was incredible. The rhythm was perfect. It’s incredible." Armstrong, bidding for a record sixth straight Tour title, smiled broadly as he crossed the line, riding a special aerodynamic bike and wearing an aerodynamic helmet and suit. "Piss off, Frenchies! How ya like me now?" Jan Ullrich, a five-time Tour runner-up and second again to Armstrong last year, finished fourth and is 55 seconds off the champion’s overall time. Ullrich’s one tough hombre, but he’ll probably be third this year behind Lance & Hamilton. Other challengers were also left trailing: Ivan Basso is 1 minute, 17 seconds behind Armstrong overall, and Roberto Heras is 1 minute, 45 seconds back. Basso can kinda, sorta climb; Heras won Tour of Spain last year with Postal’s B squad; Basso’s CSC squad is better than Heras’ Liberty. They’ll be in the top 10 in Paris. Armstrong said his team started slowly but picked up speed. Well, it was raining... "That’s the sign of a great team," he said. "We fought hard." The blue-clad Postal squad celebrated with hugs at the finish line. Armstrong raised his arms as he accepted the yellow jersey that in the past five years he has come to call his own. Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner, entered the race as Armstrong’s most feared rival. His T-Mobile squad was more than a minute behind. No Vinokorov (he crashed two weeks ago, 4th overall last year), no chance. New rules designed to Actual clock deficit to Postal - 1’19". French perfidity knows no limits. Despite rain that soaked the 40-mile course from Cambrai to Arras, Armstrong’s team still averaged more than 32 mph -- the third fastest time in the history of the event. I’m lucky to hold that for 1/4 mile with a tailwind. Four years ago. Armstrong will still be looking to the later mountain stages and individual time trials to put away his rivals for good. But the advantage gained in the team event was a major step toward yet another title. ITT up l’Alpe d’Huez is another French inspired obstacle for Lance; it doesn’t have the drama of pack breakaways, but it just serves to piss Lance off even more. Big mistake. Armstrong and five teammates are among the top seven riders in the overall standings a clear sign of strength. George Hincapie is No. 2, 10 seconds behind. He is followed by No. 3 Floyd Landis, No. 4. Jose Azevedo, No. 5. Jose Luis Rubiera and No. 7 Viatceslav Ekimov. It’s not just the Germans that can invade France. The Postal squad had the advantage of starting last of the 21 teams. It also benefited from a stop in the rain that had doused the course, turning the roads slick and causing several teams problems. There were several crashes. The Postal team has worked right from the start of the Tour, beginning with an opening time trial Saturday, to position itself as the squad to start last. That enabled the team to see how others fared on the route and judge the pace. "It’s details that can win the Tour de France," said Dirk Demol, an assistant sports manager for the team. Armstrong has said he was not aiming to keep the yellow jersey in the flat stages that come in the days following the time trial. Those stages favor strong sprinters. "I suspect we’ll be willing to give the jersey to someone else," he said. His aim is to be wearing it on the day that counts -- at the finish in Paris on July 25. He’ll have it for keeps by the time they get to that ITT on l’Alpe d’Huez. |
| Posted by:Raj |
| #8 So far from what I've seen, the Tour, compared to the Giro, is so much faster. Faso Bortalo was able to just set up Pataki at will for the sprints in the Giro, as did Aqua Sapone did two years ago for Cippolini. At this Tour the sprints are balls out, like jousting nights of old. It's trully mano-e-mano. I've yet to see any team be able to set up their guy for a text book sprint. I'm still hopeful that Semoni can challenge but that is still a story to come. Mayo, if he can get over his crushing from yesterday may still surprise, but I'm still wondering who the new guy will be. If you watched the TTT today you saw a text book echelon formation by US Postal. Short hard pulls and easy relaxed drafting. Music! I've yet to see who is going to challenge Lance. It's not crunch time though. But lay dough on it, Ullrich is still only a high GC guy. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-07-08 12:22:14 AM |
| #7 I'll wager you're correct Scott... just like to have a backup to root for. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-07-07 9:38:25 PM |
| #6 |
| Posted by: Scott R 2004-07-07 8:42:04 PM |
| #5 Shipman, Heras is a f-ing mountain goat, but IMO he doesn't have the time trialing ability or a strong enough team to provide the support he needs to be a tier one player. I hope he wins a couple mountain stages, but I don't think he can contend for top spot in the GC. |
| Posted by: Scott R 2004-07-07 8:12:34 PM |
| #4 The changes in timing accumulations and their selection of individual time trial locations were so transparently aimed at penalizing Armstrong in particular that French race officials should hang their heads in shame. However, it does constitute a flat-out admission that Armstrong c'est l'etat. Here's hoping Lance blows their f&%king doors off! For the sixth time in a row. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-07-07 6:57:28 PM |
| #3 Let's get 50 more posts and drive LH Krazy! :) |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-07-07 5:21:45 PM |
| #2 I wouldn't be counting out TeleKom just yet. Ulrich is the best rider (sez Armstrong) out there. Maybe headstrong but getting older, better, wiser and he's in the North of France. Home turf for a good Cherman to make fast.... :) I'm rooting for Roberto Herras, and no I don't know why. Damn it's stupid, but I do love the Tour de France. And yes it's very obvious I know nothing about bike racing except for the tour and the Spain thingy, I always figured the giro de Wop would be perfect for TeeeVeee and Teee Vooo (shurg) Lucky? Thoughts? Kaos is setting in! |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-07-07 5:20:45 PM |
| #1 When I saw Postal was down 30 seconds at the first intermediate split, I was sure they had no chance. Especially since they dropped Nozal(sp?) so early. This team just seems to get better each year. They have been the Dream Team of professional cycling. The riders who have left the team, Hamilton, Heras, Leipheimer(sp?), Boonen, etc., as supporting players to Lance, have emerged as team leaders with their new teams. It says a lot about a team to lose so much and still be able to dominate all challengers. My prediction for Paris: Lance to win by more than 2:30, Hamilton in second or third, Ullrich will not be on the podium. Iban Mayo will end up with a top six finish. |
| Posted by: Scott R 2004-07-07 5:03:43 PM |