Lance Armstrong was one of the riders who could have challenged Russell Downing for overall victory at the Tour of Ireland on Sunday but the Texan preferred to pull out before tackling St Patrick’s Hill.
The sudden turn onto the steep Baker’s Road on the outskirts of Cork surprised Armstrong and, with his back playing up, he opted to head to the Astana bus after first time through the finish.
“It wasn’t my day,” Armstrong told reporters after a warm shower eased the pain of racing in the rain.
“My back was out today. It was just bad today. And when your back is out, everything is out. And on a circuit like this, with steep climbs, explosive, it wasn’t going to happen."
"On that fast downhill with the lefthander with the steep wall there, I didn’t know it was coming. Going from 80k (an hour) to 10 there were guys were dropping chains. It wasn’t my day.”
Armstrong may ride a mountain bike race this year but he is already focused on the 2010 season.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1