Bourg-St-Maurice, France (GenevaLunch) - The seven-time winner of the Tour de France admitted that he had little chance of overhauling teammate Alberto Cantador as the race enters the final five stages. Tuesday’s stage from Martigny in Switzerland to Bourg-St-Maurice via the Saint Bernard pass into Italy saw a number of attacks and a nasty accident to German rider Jens Voigt who suffered severe wounds when he slid on his face after going over the handlebars.
The stage was won by Mikel Astoroza of the Basque Euskatel-Euskadi team but Alberto Cantador retained the Yellow Jersey with a lead of one minute 37 seconds over Armstrong. British Olympic pursuit champion Bradley Wiggins is nine seconds further back.
Armstrong suggests his challenge is pretty much over for this year but promises to try again next time, with a new American-based team.
Related: New York Times
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News story, GenevaLunch, 22 July 2009.
Filed under: Sports
Tags: Alberto Cantador, Bourg-St-Maurice, Bradley Wiggins, France, Italy, Lance Armstrong, Martigny, St Bernard pass, Switzerland, Tour de France, yellow jersey