Armstrong Deprived Of Stage Win Since 2005
The record making racer who was thought unbeatable and invincible for a long period of time had not been able to do as good as it was expected from him during this season of the Tour De France. Lance Armstrong, the seven times winner of the Tour had been deprived of his first stage win of the season, since his last win in the year 2005, by Pierrick Fedrigo. Armstrong was able to win a stage in Saint-Etienne on 23 July 2005, the same year when he grabbed the seventh World Champion title of his career.
The sixteenth stage of the race was exciting and thrilling as the racing icon Armstrong and six other racers were dramatically beaten by the Fedrigo. However, the day was ended by the overall victory of the defending Champion Alberto Contador, as he gave a lead of eight-seconds to the runner up of last year’s race, Andy Schleck.
Fedrigo's victory marked the sixth stage win for France as the 97th Tour de France unfolds. He was followed by compatriot Sandy Casar and Spain's Ruben Plaza as the stage ended, whereas Armstrong was hardly able to end at sixth place for the stage.
As the day ended Armstrong talked to the media explaining that it was a tough day, far tougher than he had expected it to be. He added that after staying out of the race for such a long time he simply had not been as quick as some of the others.
This stage was particularly a tough one. The tour now reaches to its final and major stages and this was one of the hardest as it features four major climbs of the tour, the Col de Peyresourde, Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet and the Col d'Aubisque.
Armstrong further added that the attack on him was already planned as he knew that starting on the Peyresourde would be tough for him and also he had the idea that he was being chased by a big group that was fast enough to cross him.
He explained that he had worked really hard to have himself trained at his best but, he admitted, that he is not one of the fastest guys of the season as he had been in the previous years. However, he was proud to proclaim that he still had the spirit of the fighter and would not give up.
Armstrong, who stands among the most successful cyclists of all times retired from racing in the year 2005, shortly after he bagged the victory of Tour de France 2005 and had returned to racing in early 2009. The tour of last year was finished by him at sixth place which was a pretty good finish after being away for such a long while and having fought the dreadful disease. He had faced a long tough period fighting back the third stage of testicular cancer, due to which he had to resign from the race. Now as he returns to the track, though he apparently seems healthy and fit yet he had not been able to bring forth the racer he had always been on the track.
In the overall standings of the season so far Armstrong had hardly been able to occupy the twenty fifth place so far, which is somehow disappointing for his fans as well as other race lovers but still they all keep wishing him the best as they hope to see him lead the race as they had always witnessed before.
So far the season is being topped by Alberto Contador, the title defender of the season, who is being followed by Andy Schleck, by a lead of merely eight seconds.
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