Armstrong seals Tour victory in trial
uk.sports.yahoo.com
<<...Lance Armstrong has sealed his fourth Tour de France victory with an impressive win in the penultimate stage, an individual time trial in the Beaujolais vineyards.
The American, who will become the most successful Tour rider from his country on the Champs-Elysees on Sunday, avenged earlier disappointments this season in long time trials by outclassing his rivals between Regnie-Durette and Macon.
The U.S. Postal team leader, beaten by Colombian Santiago Botero over 55 kilometres in Brittany 10 days before, finished in one hour, three minutes and 50 seconds on Saturday, at an average speed of 47 kph.
It was the Texan's fourth stage victory this year, and his 15th in the Tour.
"After the first time trial, I was reading that Armstrong was not as good as he used to be in time trials," he said.
"But you can't win them all."
"It was a great course, and I love wine too," the 30-year-old added.
On Sunday, Armstrong will become only the fifth rider to win four Tours, joining five-times winners Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain.
Armstrong, who also won the Tour prologue in Luxembourg and two mountain stages in the Pyrenees, has now won eight of the 11 time trials held in the French race since 1999...>> |
