| | Associated Press
NANTES, France -- After a week living at a futuristic
concrete-and-glass theme park, Lance Armstrong is ready to begin
the real Tour de France.
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Tom Steels (center) edged out the peloton to win Stage Three. |
The 1999 champion, caged up at Futuroscope Park after a week's
training and Saturday's time trial, was itching to break out onto
the open road.
Armstrong is in second place in this year's event, four seconds
behind the overall leader David Millar. He finished 64th, as part
of the second pack, in Monday's third stage.
"I'm happy we've got started," Armstrong said as the Tour
began to wind its way through Muscadet country toward the city of
Nantes near the Atlantic coast.
"It's good to be finally going from one place to another -- that's the real Tour de France."
Third-placed Laurent Jalabert of France closed the gap slightly,
moving from 15 seconds to just six seconds behind the leader.
Belgium's Tom Steels won his second straight stage, bursting
ahead of a bunched pack in a dramatic sprint. He finished in 3
hours, 37 minutes, 51 seconds.
Germany's Marcel Wust of Festina was second, only separated from
Erik Zabel of Deutsche Telekom by the toss of a coin.
The riders began in the old town of Loudun and covered 100
miles, passing by Muscadet vineyards and rolling fields of
sunflowers.
Millar was part of a pileup among several racers about a
half-mile from the finish. He recovered quickly, completed the race
and barely held the top spot. He would have lost his yellow jersey
to Armstrong if he failed to get back into the race.
Armstrong, a 28-year-old Texan, won last year in incredible
fashion. He triumphed in France just three years after being
diagnosed with testicular cancer that spread to his brain and
lungs.
He believes he will peak at the right time during the three-week
event to again put in a strong challenge.
"In general I feel very good," he said.
Armstrong, so far, has looked completely focused on the job
ahead, his concentration and deadpan stare only occasionally broken
by hoards of autograph hunters.
After each race, he has ridden straight up to the door of his
U.S. Postal team's trail and jumped in before being whisked back to
the team hotel.
One disadvantage of winning last year's race is that Armstrong
is now a marked man, both by competitors and the media.
He is so intent on retaining his title and so determined to stay
out of the spotlight that he was even relieved not to hold the
leader's yellow jersey after the opening individual time trial.
Millar, from Britain, beat him by two seconds.
Armstrong has held back early, with his sights set on Tuesday's
team time trial in which he is expected to excel.
He has faith in his team -- Tyler Hamilton is currently 10th
overall and looking strong -- and knows the stakes are high.
"I am very hopeful we will do a big time and put in a big
performance," Armstrong said.
This year's competition is stiffer, mainly due to the return of
1997 champion German Jan Ullrich and 1998 champion Marco Pantani
from Italy.
Pantani should be formidable in the mountains _ but that's also
where Armstrong made it clear last year, with a thrilling victory
in the Alps, that he was the man to beat.
Pantani has been noticeably absent so far, trailing Armstrong by
2:14.
"He's got a very good team and definitely remains a factor I
have to reckon with," Armstrong said.
Just as he has relished hitting the open roads, Armstrong can't
wait to see the Pyrenees mountains on the Spanish border, where the
10th stage will be held next Monday.
Armstrong will have no qualms about wearing yellow then.
"It's better not to have it right now and to try and get it in
the Pyrenees," he said. "That's where the race really begins for
me."
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ALSO SEE
Armstrong places 38th in first stage; second overall
Stage Three Results
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Tom Steels wins the sprint again to capture Stage Three.
avi: 1337 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Nearing the finish, overall leader David Millar is involved in a pileup.
avi: 2145 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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