|
Armstrong relieved despite losing yellow jersey
Updated: 2005-07-11 08:28
MULHOUSE, France, July 10 (Reuters) - Six-times champion Lance Armstrong has
experienced one of the most demanding first weeks in his Tour de France career
after relinquishing the leader's yellow jersey to Jens Voigt on Sunday.
Discovery Channel team rider
Lance Armstrong of the U.S. waits at the start of the 171km (106 miles)
9th stage of the 92nd Tour de France cycling race between Gerardmer and
Mulhouse, July 10, 2005. [Reuters] | "I think it's
one of the fastest ever first weeks we've ever done," the 33-year-old American
said.
"If you look at the average race speed of the first nine stages, I can't
recall one being that fast.
"It's not been flat either and so I anticipate that somewhere along the way
in the second half of the race or in the last week there's going to be a major
crash in terms of people's condition and recovery, because it's very difficult
to keep that up," he added.
His Discovery Channel team experienced such a letdown in Saturday's seventh
stage to Gerardmer when Armstrong was left isolated on the first serious climb
of this year's Tour.
The Texan then gave up the yellow jersey he won in Tuesday's team time trial
to Voigt, dropping to third overall, on the eve of a timely rest day in
Grenoble.
"I felt today might be the day we gave the jersey away or the jersey was
taken away and sure enough it was," Armstrong said.
"It was not a priority to keep it, but it's always a special jersey to have
on your back. When you cross the line and you don't go to the podium to put it
on, you're a little sad.
|
 | | | Flood in Anhui Province | | |  | | | Job-hunting pressures | | |  | | | Chinese leaders meet with Rice | | |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top China
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
