| | Associated Press
DRAGUIGNAN, France -- Lance Armstrong maintained his four
minute, 55 second lead of the Tour de France after Friday's stage,
which was won by Spain's Jose Vicente Garcia-Acosta.
The Banesto rider broke away from the leading riders in the
closing stages and brilliantly held off a challenge from two
Frenchmen, Nicolas Jalabert and Pascal Herve, to win in 4 hours,
3 minutes, 2 seconds.
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Lance Armstrong wipes away the sweat as he cruises during Friday's 14th stage. |
Jalabert came second in the 115-mile route from Avignon to
Draguignan, 25 seconds back, with Herve third, a further two
seconds behind.
Armstrong finished in 27th place, 10:06 behind Garcia-Acosta.
But he had the same time as Germany's Jan Ullrich, his only
realistic rival for the title, so he lost nothing and is a day
closer to winning his second straight tour.
As it was Bastille Day, France's national holiday, the thousands
of fans that lined the hilly route to Draguignan in southeast
France had high hopes.
France's Didier Rous made a brave bid to be the first French
winner of a Bastille Day stage since 1997, storming to a
five-minute lead at the halfway stage.
But he was caught, and with 37 miles to race he was only one of
a group of 13 riders, seven of them French, with a 6 minute, 30
second lead over the U.S. Postal-led group that includes
Armstrong.
With just over 19 miles to go, Garcia-Costa made a sterling
break. Jalabert and Herve, roared on by French fans, went in
pursuit but weren't strong enough for the 27-year-old Spaniard.
The stage, coming between two of the race's toughest stages,
offered some light relief to riders.
It included only three gentle climbs, in contrast to Thursday's
punishing climb up Mont Ventoux.
Cyclists headed east from the ancient city of Avignon along
hilly roads and past the renowned stone Thoronet Abbey.
Next up is a trek to the Alps, with Saturday's tough 155-mile
climb from Draguignan to Briancon. | |
ALSO SEE
Stage Thirteen results
A spoiled celebration
Girl injured by Tour de France car
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jose Vincente Garcia-Acosta wins Stage 13.
avi: 921 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Stage 13 course map
RealVideo: 28.8
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