Armstrong says didn't feel comfortable in mountains
Armstrong says didn't feel comfortable in mountains
Sat Jun 11, 2005 02:21 PM ET
MORZINE, France (Reuters) - Lance Armstrong was comforted by the fact that most of his Dauphine Libere rivals did not fare better than he did as the American toiled during four first-category mountain climbs Saturday.
With the exception of Colombian Santiago Botero, winner of the 155-km sixth stage from Albertville to Morzine, none of the leading contenders for next month's Tour de France was able to threaten Armstrong.
"I feel better from what I've seen as nobody was able to attack without faltering," the six-times Tour de France champion told reporters after finishing seventh in Saturday's stage.
Discovery Channel team leader Armstrong, who is fourth in the overall standings, finished in the same group as fellow American Levi Leipheimer and Kazakhstan's Alexander Vinokourov, who could both be among his Tour rivals.
The American also easily dropped former team mate Floyd Landis on the Joux-Plane climb, the most difficult of the day.
"I cannot say I felt comfortable even if it was better toward the end," said Armstrong.
"For most of the first part of the stage I had to be content with following the pace. Then it went better and better.
"In Joux-Plane, I tried to follow my own tempo without getting excited. It's not easy because I haven't climbed many mountains at race level this season.
"The Ventoux (on Thursday) was the first."
The fourth stage up the gruelling Ventoux was won by Vinokourov. Armstrong finished fourth.
"I don't yet have the punch and the stamina Vino or Levi have," said the American, adding the Dauphine had been especially hard this year.
"The man who designed this course was obviously in a bad mood."
Sat Jun 11, 2005 02:21 PM ET
MORZINE, France (Reuters) - Lance Armstrong was comforted by the fact that most of his Dauphine Libere rivals did not fare better than he did as the American toiled during four first-category mountain climbs Saturday.
With the exception of Colombian Santiago Botero, winner of the 155-km sixth stage from Albertville to Morzine, none of the leading contenders for next month's Tour de France was able to threaten Armstrong.
"I feel better from what I've seen as nobody was able to attack without faltering," the six-times Tour de France champion told reporters after finishing seventh in Saturday's stage.
Discovery Channel team leader Armstrong, who is fourth in the overall standings, finished in the same group as fellow American Levi Leipheimer and Kazakhstan's Alexander Vinokourov, who could both be among his Tour rivals.
The American also easily dropped former team mate Floyd Landis on the Joux-Plane climb, the most difficult of the day.
"I cannot say I felt comfortable even if it was better toward the end," said Armstrong.
"For most of the first part of the stage I had to be content with following the pace. Then it went better and better.
"In Joux-Plane, I tried to follow my own tempo without getting excited. It's not easy because I haven't climbed many mountains at race level this season.
"The Ventoux (on Thursday) was the first."
The fourth stage up the gruelling Ventoux was won by Vinokourov. Armstrong finished fourth.
"I don't yet have the punch and the stamina Vino or Levi have," said the American, adding the Dauphine had been especially hard this year.
"The man who designed this course was obviously in a bad mood."
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