Final Stage a Formality For 33-Year-Old Texan

Lance Armstrong captured his seventh consecutive Tour de France yesterday, closing out a glorious cycling career and doing exactly what he set out to do: Ride his final race and come out a winner.The final stage, with its traditional eight loops around the Champs-Elysees, was marred by wet weather that made the course dangerous. Tour organizers decided to halt the timing of the race with the first crossing of the finish line, rather than the eighth, to protect the racers. The showcase ride through Paris was more of a formality, anyway. Armstrong led his nearest rival, Ivan Basso (CSC), by an unbeatable 4:40. They may as well have called it off in the Pyrenees. Armstrong wore the yellow jersey on 18 of the 21 stages and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that, even as a self-proclaimed “old man,” no one can defeat him.The Paris stage is generally one for the Tour’s sprinters, but yesterday, the powerful Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) attacked off the front with Bradley McGee (Francaise des Jeux) and Fabian Cancellare (Fassa Bortolo). Vinokourov powered over the line just seconds in front of the charging bunch. It was a tremendous victory for a rider who had seen his hopes of challenging for the overall victory dashed by a bad day in the Alps last week.Vinokourov’s victory put paid to any hopes the Australian Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) had of capturing the green jersey of the Tour’s points leader. Thor Hushovd preserved his lead in the competition by finishing seventh to become the first Norwegian winner of the jersey.Armstrong himself had no bad days, and appeared to be in the prime of his career as he won the fastest Tour in history (average speed: 41.65 kilometers per hour). One couldn’t help but wonder if his surprising performance would prompt him to reconsider retirement. The number “8” was painted on the roads on the way into Paris.“There’s no reason to continue,” he said, when the question was put to him. “It’s time for a new face, for a new story.”As he began his triumphant ride into Paris, Armstrong showed a wide smile and chatted with Basso. They exchanged congratulations as Alessandro Bertolini (Domina Vacanze) came up behind the yellow jersey and gave him a friendly push forward. Champagne was served to the winner, de rigeur, as he rode along. He flashed seven fingers to cameramen. It seemed like the stage would be a playful and enjoyable jaunt to the end, until the damp weather turned very wet.In the suburbs of the capital, chasing down an unusual attack, three of Armstrong’s teammates slid and crashed on the slick pavement just in front of their leader. The yellow jersey hit the brakes, took his foot out of the pedals, and skidded to a stop just as his wheels hit one of the overturned bicycles in front of him. He managed to keep his balance, clicked back into this pedals, and continued on to the front of the peloton.By the time they reached the city limits, riding along the Seine, the rain really started to come down. The Discovery Channel riders had rejoined the front of the group and, with George Hincapie – Armstrong’s close friend and right-hand-man – led the pack onto the Champs-Elysees.Armstrong then moved to the front, as the Parisians cheered wildly. He very slowly led the compact peleton around the turns and along the slick cobblestones. He let the sprinters’ teams set the tempo and contented himself with riding calmly into 118th place. It was a day to celebrate, not to race for a win. “I have absolutely no regrets,” he said. “I have had an unbelievable career.”

Final Stage a Formality For 33-Year-Old Texan

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