Lance Armstrong virtually accepted defeat in the Tour de France after losing 1-35 to team mate Alberto Contador on the climb to Verbier and struggling to stay with the other overall contenders.
The 37-year-old Texan had hoped to at least hang on to Contador's wheel but did not have the speed on the climb when it really mattered.
It was probably tough for him to admit, but he acknowledged that Contador is now the best Tour de France rider in the world.
"Now you know who's the best rider in the world and the best rider in the race. In the past I was the best, now he's the best," Armstrong said at the finish.
“Alberto is the best rider. Sure he is the best climber. You know when everybody is at the limit and you can accelerate again, that's how you win the Tour. I have been there. I definitely suffered, it was very hard, I was at the limit, I no longer have the acceleration and the pace that Alberto has.”
Armstrong happy to play domestique
Armstrong said he will ride for Contador and for the good of the Astana team for the rest of the Tour. His objective is now a place on the podium.
“When somebody has so much pressure on him and shows he is the best you can't deny it. It would be unfair. As far as I'm concerned, I'm happy to be his domestique. I'm proud of him. So hats off to Alberto and to the Schlecks for a great race today.
"A day like this really shows who's the best," Armstrong continued. "For me, that's reality but that's not devastating news. As a team, we're strong. There has been a lot of drama about Alberto and especially in the media but at the end of the day we all sit around the table as team mates, and the last thing we can do is to lose the Tour.”
“It's clear we have the strongest rider in the race and this is team sport. None of us, Andreas [Kloden] or myself, can think about ourselves, we have to think about the team. If we play it really, really smart, we can have three guys in the top five and the guy who wins. That's a special opportunity but I think now it's time for me to put my chances aside. I'm now going to do my best and be a solid team mate.”
“I think after today he demonstrated he is the strongest in the race. I thought I'd feel a little better but I didn't. There is no point messing around. I gave everything I had and I wasn't the best.”
“That's because I haven't been there for a long, long time. There might be people out there that expect me to ride like I did in 2004 or 2005 but that's not reality. If I do another year, and I get a season under my belt, maybe I can get that race condition back. But right now, I don't have it.”
TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS
Tour de France 2009 - the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.
STAGE REPORTS
Stage 15: Contador wins in Verbier as Tour explodes into life
Stage 14: Ivanov wins as Nocentini clings onto yellow
Stage 13: Haussler braves rain for victory in Colmar
Stage 12: Sorensen wins in Vittel as Cavendish goes for green
Stage 11: Cavendish takes fourth win to equal Hoban's record
Stage 10: Cavendish spoils Bastille Day party to take third stage win
Stage nine: Third French win as contenders content with ceasefire
stage eight: Sanchez wins from break as Tour favourites cancel each other out
Stage seven: Feillu wins at Arcalis, Nocentini takes yellow, Contador leap-frogs Lance
Stage six: Millar's brave bid denied on Barcelona hill as Hushovd triumphs
Stage five: Voeckler survives chase to win his first Tour stage
Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second
Live Tour de France stage four TTT coverage
Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador
Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint
Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial
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Tour de France 2009 News Index>>
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EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS
Garmin-Slipstream's HQ before the Tour
David Zabriskie's time trial bike
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David Brailsford interview
Mark Cavendish on the Tour
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TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS
Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage seven photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage four TTT photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage one photo gallery by Andy Jones
Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson
Team presentation by Andy Jones
Team presentation by Graham Watson
TOUR GUIDE
Tour de France 2009 - the hub
Tour de France 2009: Who's riding
Tour de France 2009: Team guide
About the Tour de France
FEATURES
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Tour de France 2009 on TV: Eurosport and ITV4 schedules
Big names missing from 2009 Tour de France
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Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
Cycling Weekly's rider profiles
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