France’s Pierrick Fedrigo won the ninth stage of the Tour de France, a 160.5-km trek from St Gaudens to Tarbes on Sunday.
Italy’s Franco Pellizotti was second and Spain’s Oscar Freire third… Details
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Lance Armstrong says he could be back for one more Tour de France.
The 37-year-old Texan, who is competing in the Tour for the first time since 2005, was asked by a French TV interviewer if this will be his last one.
“Probably not. Probably not,†Armstrong said on France-2 after Sunday’s ninth stage. “Maybe one more Tour.â€
The seven-time champion, who is riding for the Astana team without salary this year, has previously hinted he may launch his own team next season…Â Details
As usual, the Tour de France has been a fascinating feast of sporting drama, spiced with side dishes of cycling politics, secrecy, speculation and innuendo.
Now, as the midway point of the world’s most arduous two-wheeled test approaches, it may become a race.
Cycling’s inner machinations provide intrigue of their own, and for those who like to delve beneath the skin of athletic endeavor it is the gift that keeps on giving.
Finally getting to understand the intricate workings of this complex profession, with its multitude of jerseys, classifications, traditions and team orders is something of an achievement in itself.
Yet what everyone with an affinity for this event wants to see – from the casual television viewer to the bike racing fanatic – is two combatants freed from situational shackles and allowed to go head-to-head in pedaling warfare.
Such shackles looked likely to deny Lance Armstrong his shot at an eighth Tour title this year, with Spanish teammate Alberto Contador having earned the protected position of leader within the Astana squad…Â Details
A brief look at Saturday’s eighth stage of the Tour de France:
Stage: A 109.7-mile trek featuring three big climbs from Andorra La Vella, Andorra, to Saint-Girons, France.
Winner: Spain’s Luis Leon Sanchez, in a sprint ahead of three other breakaway riders. Sanchez won the Paris-Nice stage race in March. He crossed the line just ahead of France’s Sandy Casar and Mikel Astarloza of Spain.
Yellow Jersey: Rinaldo Nocentini of the AG2R-La Mondiale team, who earned …Â Details