Tour de France
McEwen wins ninth stage; Armstrong finishes in pack

By John Leicester
The Associated Press

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Head down, the Australian unleashed a burst of speed on the final straight, racing along the barriers and throwing his wheel over the line just ahead of Norwegian champion Thor Hushovd, becoming the first two-stage winner of this Tour.

Armstrong, trying for a record sixth straight title, finished comfortably in the main pack at the end of the undulating, hilly stage in central France. Frenchman Thomas Voeckler retained the overall lead.

"We just sat on the wheel, took it easy. We didn't have to take any responsibility," said Armstrong. The stage "was fine, didn't really surprise me at all."

Spain's Inigo Landaluze and Italian rider Filippo Simeoni, who broke away and rode in front for most of the race, were overtaken by McEwen, Hushovd and the chasing pack of riders in the dash for the line.

"It's a beautiful victory," said McEwen, who rode with a sore knee and back, injuries sustained in a crash last week. "I gave all of my energy to that sprint."

He said his knee was so painful Monday, a rest day, that he set out today thinking, "I just hope I survive."

The 32-year-old McEwen also won a sprint finish in stage two to Namur in Belgium. He won the green jersey as best sprinter in 2002, and now has five stage victories in seven Tours. He is the current holder of the green jersey — and hopes to win it at the finish in Paris on July 25.

Hushovd, the Norwegian who won a sprint finish in Sunday's stage, zoomed up the left of the finish straight, while McEwen stayed right, skimming the barriers. They were neck-to-neck at the line, with McEwen just ahead.

The two breakaway riders, Landaluze and Simeoni, surged ahead of the pack 23.5 miles from the start and built up a lead of around 10 minutes.

The pack began to chase with about 42 miles to go, and gradually closed the gap. As they rounded the last corner to the finish, Landaluze and Simeoni were within sight of chasers. Their tired legs couldn't get them over the line ahead of the faster sprinters.
 
The 99.5-mile ride, the shortest of this Tour with the exception of time trial courses, started in Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat, the hometown of retired French great Raymond Poulidor.

On Wednesday, riders embark on the longest, and so far toughest, ride of the Tour, a 147-mile trek with nine climbs — including a 3.5-mile ascent up a gradient of eight percent.

"It will be hard, especially if the race starts aggressively like it did today," said Armstrong. "A lot of people will be going home if it starts like that."