Armstrong stages accelerated recovery

Published on Tuesday 22 July 2003 01:00

A RUSH of adrenaline powered Lance Armstrong to one of the most sensational stage victories in the history of the Tour de France yesterday, when the American got back on his bike after a crashing fall and found the strength to surge past his rivals.

Today’s rest day will allow spectators and riders time to draw breath, after the dramatic 15th stage, taking in the final climb to Luz-Ardinen.

Armstrong, who is bidding for a record-equalling fifth Tour victory, was attacked and briefly dropped by German rival Jan Ullrich on the classic Tourmalet pass, but just as the defending champion counter-attacked behind Basque rider Iban Mayo, he got a spectator’s bag snagged in his brake lever, bringing himself and Mayo crashing to the ground.

As the stricken pair struggled to get back into the race, Ullrich and his fellow riders gave an admirable display of sportsmanship, respecting a Tour tradition and letting both return to their bikes and to their pre-crash positions in the field.

Armstrong gritted his teeth and rejoined the chase, but nearly came off his bike again, when his foot slipped out of a cleat. From then on, though, he took the stage by storm.

"After the crash, I had a big rush of adrenaline. I told myself ‘Come on Lance, you must win the Tour today,’" said the American, who increased his lead from 15 seconds to 1:07 with his first stage win of this year’s race. "I think it was a spectator’s bag. But it was also my fault for riding too close to the right side of the road," he explained.

Armstrong’s break was so sudden and punishing that it seemed fuelled by the frustration of a Tour that had appeared to be slipping out of his control since he was humbled by Ullrich in Friday’s time trial.

Long-term stage leader Sylvain Chavanel was eventually overhauled near the finish of the 159.5km stage, Armstrong graciously patting the back of the exhausted Frenchman as he accelerated past.

The crash was his second in this year’s Tour, having been involved in a massive pile-up on the first stage. With stomach problems before the prologue and suffocating heat, it has been far from a smooth ride for the US Postal leader.

But his response on the approach to Luz-Ardiden, lined by thousands of fanatical Basque fans, was awesome.

Second at the start of the stage, 15 seconds behind Armstrong, Ullrich crucially lost 40 seconds on the final climb. The Tour winner in 1997 had looked strong when he first attacked Armstrong in the Tourmalet. But Armstrong managed to bridge the gap and join forces with the German and Euskaltel leaders Mayo and Haymar Zubeldia.

Ullrich’s attack proved fatal to third-placed Alexander Vinokourov, who drifted back to a 2:26 behind the Texan at the finish, a total deficit of 2:47.

"This morning, I knew this was going to be a great day for me and for the Tour. I knew that if I wanted to win the Tour, I needed to attack today," Armstrong said. "I could not wait for the last time trial," he added, referring to Saturday’s 49km timed test between Pornic and Nantes.

The time trial will be the final chance for Ullrich to strike back, but he will have to repeat the form he showed in winning the first timed test at Cap Decouverte, something Armstrong is wary of.

"The Tour finishes on the Champs Elysees. Jan Ullrich is a great rider and everything is possible in the time trial. What matters most for me now is that I will be able to look my team- mates in the eyes tonight in the hotel," he said.

Ullrich put a brave face on a gruelling day, insisting the 15th stage had not been "too negative".

"In the past, when Armstrong did his thing in the mountains, I would lose two minutes. I only lost one minute this time. So that’s not too negative," he said, confirming that he will fight until the bitter end in Paris on Sunday.

"It’s still a wide open race," he added.