| | Associated Press
PARIS -- Lance Armstrong goes into the
Tour de France armed with one priceless weapon -- the enormous
self-confidence he acquired last year in winning the world's
most prestigious cycle race.
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Armstrong is not lacking confidence going into this year's race. |
"When you've won the Tour once you cannot come back and say
honestly that you hope to finish in the top five," he said.
"I'm going back on the Tour to win it and if I don't it
will be a big disappointment."
The American's faith in himself is all the more impressive
as the race starting on Saturday appears likely to be more
closely fought this year with the return of past winners Jan
Ullrich of Germany and Italian Marco Pantani.
Armstrong's confidence is backed up by his performance in
the Dauphine Libere race in early June in which he led U.S.
Postal colleague Tyler Hamilton to victory.
He has not competed in another race since then, preferring
to stay fresh for the Tour.
"I learnt last year that the body cannot give 100 percent
all the time. To handle the Tour sufferings you need to take it
easy," he said.
Tougher opposition
"Last year I was exhausted after the time trial in Metz and
after the Sestriere stage but I felt fine afterwards. It means I
had the right preparation."
Armstrong won all of the key stages last year, the prologue,
the first individual time trial in Metz and the decisive
mountain stage in Sestriere, but he faces tougher opposition
this year.
Ullrich is regarded as a superior time trial specialist
while Pantani, at his best, is unstoppable in the mountains.
Their presence will be a real test of Armstrong's standing in
cycling's top echelon.
The U.S. Postal team leader became a celebrity in his
country more because of his fight against cancer than because of
his sporting success.
"I feel more like a spokesman for these people, those who
have fought cancer and won. I'm not a standard bearer for
cycling," said Armstrong who quit riding for more than a year
because of testicular cancer.
As in 1999, Armstrong and his team mates, under the guidance
of former Tour rider Johan Bruyneel, have closely studied this
year's stages and trained on most of the itinerary. | |
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