Armstrong has his last go in the Tour

LANCE ARMSTRONG LEADS AN ESCAPE ON STAGE SIXTEEN

The Tour de France may have seen the last of Lance Armstrong’s attacks today on the stage to Pau. The American, seven-time winner attempted to ride clear of his rivals on the Col du Tourmalet.

His attempt at 140 kilometres to race was where cycling legend Eddy Merckx attacked in 1969 on an identical stage. Merckx, though, stayed clear for the remainder of the stage and doubled his lead in the overall classification.

Armstrong, five years after his last big win, was not fighting for the overall but only for a stage win.

“I am alive, I tried hard,” explained Armstrong, “I am not the best guy on the race but I still have the spirit of a fighter.”

Armstrong’s rivals were not about to let him go. Damiano Cunego was at the receiving end of Armstrong’s criticism prior to the 2008 Tour de France and today he chased Armstrong on the Tourmalet. Carlos Barredo did the same on the Aspin.

The old boss of the peloton just did not have it.

“Lance Armstrong,” he said, “is over with in about four or five days.”

Losing to Pierrick Fédrigo in Pau just may have been the signal that Armstrong is in fact over with. The stage, ending with a descent, was his last chance to win. The next mountain stage Thursday, following tomorrow’s rest day, ends up the Tourmalet.

Armstrong will be no match to the climbing speed of Andy Schleck and current race leader Alberto Contador.

His team manager and long time friend, Johan Bruyneel, confirmed that Armstrong did not have it for the win today.

“He told me with 15K to go he was tired,” said Bruyneel. “I knew it was going to be difficult.”

Bruyneel will see Armstrong wave goodbye to his fans Sunday when the race ends on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The next time Armstrong could make the headlines may be when he answers to a grand jury over Floyd Landis’ accusations that he dropped during his seven-year reign as Tour de France champion.

“Let’s not forget that there have been investigations for last ten years and they’ve never found anything,” Armstrong said two days ago.

“We’re all going to get a chance to tell the truth.”

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