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July 21, 2003, 12:53PM
Armstrong recovers from fall to win 15th stage
Associated Press
LUZ-ARDIDEN, France-- Lance Armstrong routed two rivals in a riveting climb in the Tour de France today, recovering from a fall to stamp his authority on the race after two difficult weeks.
His victory in the misty mountains of the Pyrenees bolstered his chances of equaling Miguel Indurain's record of five straight Tour victories.
Jan Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner, is now 67 seconds back overall, giving Armstrong a more comfortable lead with five stages left. Ullrich, grimacing as he neared the finish, started the day trailing by just 15 seconds,
Another rival left behind was Alexandre Vinokourov. The Kazak had been 18 seconds behind, but he was left flailing and is now out of contention.
That essentially reduces the Tour to a duel between Armstrong and Ullrich leading to the finish in Paris on Sunday.
Armstrong fell about 5.9 miles from the summit at Luz-Ardiden, a ski resort. He grazed his left elbow and dirtied the left shoulder of his yellow jersey when he drove into a spectator. He then climbed back on his bike and got back in the race.
The Texan also grazed his left hip in the crash but was otherwise unhurt, said his spokesman, Jogi Muller.
"After the fall, I had a big, big rush of adrenaline," Armstrong said. He said he then told himself, "Lance if you want to win the Tour de France, do it today."
Armstrong hit a spectator on the side of the winding ascent. He said he was partly to blame because he was riding too close to the edge of the road. Spain's Iban Mayo also fell after crashing into Armstrong as he lay on the tarmac.
The drama didn't stop there. A few seconds after getting back on his bike, Armstrong nearly fell again when his right foot slipped out of his pedal.
Armstrong, slumped over his bike after his ride, crossed the line 40 seconds ahead of Ullrich, whom he left far behind on the punishing ascent.
The stage win was Armstrong's first of this Tour. Where just days ago Armstrong appeared haggard and drained, today he looked like the champion of old.
Vinokourov, his mouth gaping in exhaustion, finished 2:07 back in the 15th stage and dropped behind 2:45 overall.
Armstrong needed to build his lead going into Saturday's time trial, which could prove the deciding stage of this centennial Tour.
Ullrich was devastating in the last time trial Friday, taking a 96-second chunk out of Armstrong's overall lead and dealing the Texan a blow that until Monday appeared to have been nearly irreparable.
With only 15 seconds to spare over Ullrich at the start of the day, Armstrong understood the importance of the climb to Luz-Ardiden.
"I knew it was a very big day for me and the Tour de France," he said.
The tens of thousands of spectators who lined the route were anticipating an outstanding race -- and it exceeded expectations.
Never had Armstrong been so closely shadowed by his rivals since he first won the Tour in 1999. Almost from the beginning, he had problems. He was sick before the Tour; he was involved in a crash on the second day; he failed to shine in the Alps. Then came the fall.
"I think it was a spectator's bag," he said. "It was also my fault for riding too much to the right of the road. It's too bad."
The crashed seemed to suggest Armstrong's luck had finally run out, but it could prove the deciding moment of this year's race.
July 21, 2003, 12:53PM
Armstrong recovers from fall to win 15th stage
Associated Press
LUZ-ARDIDEN, France-- Lance Armstrong routed two rivals in a riveting climb in the Tour de France today, recovering from a fall to stamp his authority on the race after two difficult weeks.
His victory in the misty mountains of the Pyrenees bolstered his chances of equaling Miguel Indurain's record of five straight Tour victories.
Jan Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner, is now 67 seconds back overall, giving Armstrong a more comfortable lead with five stages left. Ullrich, grimacing as he neared the finish, started the day trailing by just 15 seconds,
Another rival left behind was Alexandre Vinokourov. The Kazak had been 18 seconds behind, but he was left flailing and is now out of contention.
That essentially reduces the Tour to a duel between Armstrong and Ullrich leading to the finish in Paris on Sunday.
Armstrong fell about 5.9 miles from the summit at Luz-Ardiden, a ski resort. He grazed his left elbow and dirtied the left shoulder of his yellow jersey when he drove into a spectator. He then climbed back on his bike and got back in the race.
The Texan also grazed his left hip in the crash but was otherwise unhurt, said his spokesman, Jogi Muller.
"After the fall, I had a big, big rush of adrenaline," Armstrong said. He said he then told himself, "Lance if you want to win the Tour de France, do it today."
Armstrong hit a spectator on the side of the winding ascent. He said he was partly to blame because he was riding too close to the edge of the road. Spain's Iban Mayo also fell after crashing into Armstrong as he lay on the tarmac.
The drama didn't stop there. A few seconds after getting back on his bike, Armstrong nearly fell again when his right foot slipped out of his pedal.
Armstrong, slumped over his bike after his ride, crossed the line 40 seconds ahead of Ullrich, whom he left far behind on the punishing ascent.
The stage win was Armstrong's first of this Tour. Where just days ago Armstrong appeared haggard and drained, today he looked like the champion of old.
Vinokourov, his mouth gaping in exhaustion, finished 2:07 back in the 15th stage and dropped behind 2:45 overall.
Armstrong needed to build his lead going into Saturday's time trial, which could prove the deciding stage of this centennial Tour.
Ullrich was devastating in the last time trial Friday, taking a 96-second chunk out of Armstrong's overall lead and dealing the Texan a blow that until Monday appeared to have been nearly irreparable.
With only 15 seconds to spare over Ullrich at the start of the day, Armstrong understood the importance of the climb to Luz-Ardiden.
"I knew it was a very big day for me and the Tour de France," he said.
The tens of thousands of spectators who lined the route were anticipating an outstanding race -- and it exceeded expectations.
Never had Armstrong been so closely shadowed by his rivals since he first won the Tour in 1999. Almost from the beginning, he had problems. He was sick before the Tour; he was involved in a crash on the second day; he failed to shine in the Alps. Then came the fall.
"I think it was a spectator's bag," he said. "It was also my fault for riding too much to the right of the road. It's too bad."
The crashed seemed to suggest Armstrong's luck had finally run out, but it could prove the deciding moment of this year's race.
