Tour de France
Armstrong delivers blow

Chicago Tribune and The Associated Press

DOUG PENSINGER / GETTY IMAGES Lance Armstrong of U.S. Postal Service leads CSC teammates Ivan Basso and Carlos Sastre up to the finish at La Mongie.

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LA MONGIE, France — The mountains bring out the best in Lance Armstrong.

The Tour de France champion took a big step toward a record sixth straight crown yesterday with a display of climbing in the Pyrenees that left contenders dazed.

Jan Ullrich, Tyler Hamilton, Iban Mayo and Roberto Heras saw their dreams of dethroning the Texan fade as Armstrong's blue jersey disappeared into the distance on an ascent to the La Mongie ski station.

Armstrong traded pulls with Italy's Ivan Basso for the final uphill mile, then deferred to the 26-year-old at the finish. Armstrong finished in the same time and earned 12 bonus seconds as runner-up. He moved from sixth to second overall, 5 minutes, 24 seconds behind France's Thomas Voeckler.

An even more punishing Pyrenean stage is scheduled today.

"It was a pleasure for me to let (Basso) win," said Armstrong. "He was super strong. He deserved to win."

Said Basso: "It was evident to everyone that Lance was the strongest today. I think he's still got gas in his tank."

Ullrich was 20th, a daunting 2:30 behind, and called it "a bad day." He trails Armstrong by 3:37.

"Jan's not finished," Armstrong said. "He's a tough guy who doesn't give up. He might have taken one on the chin today, but he always comes back and is strong in the last week."

Riders allowed to stay

Armstrong's teammate and another rider were cleared to continue racing despite their involvement in a case of suspected doping, a cycling official told The Associated Press.

The Council of Professional Cycling settled a dispute between Tour organizers and cycling's governing body on whether Pavel Padrnos of Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service team and Italy's Stefano Zanini of Quick Step-Davitamon could continue.

Both are being investigated in a case involving suspected doping in the 2001 Tour of Italy. CPC President Vittorio Adorni said there was no reason to expel either rider.

"The riders benefit from the presumption of innocence like any other citizen," Adorni said.

Notes

• Hamilton, slowed by a back injury from a crash last week, finished 3:27 behind and trails Armstrong by 4:22 overall. Heras was 2:57 slower and saw his deficit to Armstrong grow to 5:18.

• Mayo, a Basque rider hoping for victory in front of the tens of thousands of supporters, was only 1:03 back, in ninth place, but trails Armstrong by 6:42.

• Armstrong was ferried most of the way up two major climbs by an ultra-efficient relay of U.S. Postal Service riders. George Hincapie led the peloton over the Col d'Aspin as climbing specialist Manuel Beltran faltered. Jose Azevedo escorted Armstrong up the final climb to La Mongie.

Overall leaders

Defending champion Lance Armstrong finished second yesterday and moved up from sixth place to second overall.

1. Thomas Voeckler, France, Brioches La Boulangere, 51:51.07.

2. Lance Armstrong, U.S. Postal Service, 5:24 behind.

3. Sandy Casar, France, fdjeux.com, 5:50 behind.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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