Armstrong suffers on Tour's first climbs
By Justin Davis
Agence France-Presse
July 09, 2005


GERARDMER, France, July 8 (AFP) - Lance Armstrong survived his first big
challenge on the Tour de France but admitted he suffered on the first
climbing stage of the race after countering an attack from one of his main
rivals, Alexandre Vinokourov.

Armstrong soaked up the first challenge to his yellow jersey on this year's
race, his final race before retiring, after an exciting eighth stage won by
enterprising Dutchman Pieter Weening of the Rabobank team.

However the 33-year-old American admitted -- after having to launch a
counter attack without the help of any of his Discovery Channel team
mates -- he did not expect to suffer so much.

"It was a difficult day. It was a long stage with a lot of attacks," said
Armstrong, who lost no time to third placed Vinokourov after they finished
the 231.5km stage from Pforzheim to here around 27 seconds after Weening and
Andreas Kloden.
"I suffered. I have to be honest," added Armstrong. "I wasn't cool on the
last climb. I was trying to do my best and limit the damage."

Weening, who has come close to claiming a first big win all season, held off
Germany's Andreas Kloden of T-Mobile in a two-man sprint which was decided
by a photo finish.

However before their exciting tussle, there was plenty of drama as Armstrong
was forced to go it alone in the defense of the yellow jersey he is bidding
to win for a seventh time.

None of his teammates -- who are usually crucial on the climbs to counter
any of his rivals who might decide to attack -- were with him when
Vinokourov attacked the American on the Col de la Schlucht, the first
category two climb of the race but really just an appetizer before Tuesday's
first days in the Alps.

The 31-year-old Kazakh, who placed third overall in 2003 but missed the race
through injury last year, tried to drop Armstrong, or at least see how the
American would react to an attack.

Armstrong responded immediately, and moments later Vinokourov was back among
a group which contained most of the race contenders.

Germany's Jan Ullrich -- Vinokourov's teammate at T-Mobile and a possible
foil for the 1997 winner -- Roberto Heras (Liberty), Alejandro Valverde
(Baleares) and Brad McGee of the Francaise des Jeux team were all there, and
shortly after Vinokourov had been brought back his T-Mobile teammate Kloden
decided to go in search of stage leader Weening.

Armstrong was left to fend off Vinokourov on his own -- and later admitted
he hadn't been happy with his teammates afterwards.

"There was a crisis in our team in the last climb on the race -- we might
have to evaluate how we approach things," said Armstrong. "When I got back
to the hotel I asked them what happened. I wasn't angry, but I asked them
where they were on the last climb."

"We have to analyze it -- not just myself but (team manager) Johan
(Bruyneel) and the other riders. The important thing is we do a quick
evaluation and try to correct it."

"If it's two more weeks of days like today we're in trouble. I hesitate to
say that because it was a peculiar climb. The speeds were fast and guys were
going at 40kmh."

"Maybe that climb didn't suit us. Perhaps the boys were just a little too
confident -- but this is the Tour de France and anything can happen. It's
not because I've won six Tours that the seventh is going to be any easier."

Sunday's stage could be an even tougher test for Armstrong, whose teammates
this time are likely not to miss the rendezvous.

However it appears the race for the yellow jersey is now on, and it's
starting early according to two-time Tour winner Bernard Thevenet.

"It's one of the first times we've seen Armstrong being attacked on the very
first climb of the Tour de France," said Thevenet, who won the Tour in 1975
and 1977.