LANCE ARMSTRONG mustered one of his strongest showings yet at this Tour de France on Tuesday, a dazzling burst of acceleration from yesteryear that allowed him to keep second place.
The seven-time champion was so buoyed by the performance that he said he could still contend for the yellow jersey if teammate and race leader Alberto Contador has a “bad day.”
Armstrong, speaking after the 16th stage in the Alps, stressed he doesn’t expect that to happen and only a “big shake-up” would allow for such a scenario.
Contador, the 2007 Tour winner, had to fight to retain the overall lead in the stage from the Swiss town of Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, France, which was won by Mikel Astarloza of Spain.
Contador and Armstrong finished in a small group of race leaders behind Astarloza. The route featured the highest peak this year.
Astarloza, who rides for the Euskadi Euskaltel team, thrust his fists in the air and kissed his fingers as he crossed the line in 4 hours, 14 minutes, 20 seconds. He was six seconds ahead of French riders Sandy Casar and Pierrick Fedrigo.
With about 1.6 kilometers to go, the Spaniard escaped three other breakaway riders with him and held on for his first stage win on the Tour. Contador, Armstrong, fourth-placed teammate Andreas Kloeden and third-placed Bradley Wiggins of Britain all finished 59 seconds after Astarloza.(SD-Agencies)