TRIUMPHANT! TOUR DE FRANCE GETS `SHOCK' IN WINNER ARMSTRONG.Byline: Susan Bickelhaupt Boston Globe American Lance Armstrong Lance Armstrong (born Lance Edward Gunderson on September 18, 1971) is a retired American professional road racing cyclist. He won the Tour de France—cycling's most prestigious race—seven consecutive times, from 1999 to 2005. triumphantly completed an improbable journey. He won the top bicycle race in the world Sunday, almost three years after a life-threatening battle with cancer. The ``Star-Spangled Banner'' played and the American flag was raised on the Champs Elysees Champs É·ly·sées A tree-lined thoroughfare of Paris, France, leading from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. Noun 1. as Armstrong, 27, became just the second American to win the Tour de France Tour de France World's most prestigious and difficult bicycle race. Staged for three weeks each July—usually in some 20 daylong stages—the Tour typically comprises 20 professional teams of nine riders each and covers some 3,600 km (2,235 miles) of flat and . Greg LeMond Gregory James "Greg" LeMond (born June 26, 1961 in Lakewood, California) is a former professional road bicycle racer from the United States and a three time winner of the Tour de France. In 1986, LeMond became the first American cyclist to win the race. of Wayzata, Minn., won three, the last in 1990. ``I'm in shock, I'm in shock, I'm in shock,'' said Armstrong after the race. ``It was a long road to get to the Tour and an even longer one to get through.'' Armstrong, who rides for the U.S. Postal Service The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) processes and delivers mail to individuals and businesses within the United States. The service seeks to improve its performance through the development of efficient mail-handling systems and operates its own planning and engineering programs. team and was world champion in 1993, has ridden the Tour three other times and won two stages. But testicular cancer testicular cancer Malignant tumour of the testis, or testicle. Although relatively rare, testicular cancer is the most common malignancy for men between the ages of 20 and 34. It typically affects men between 15 and 39 years old. , which spread to his lungs, abdomen and brain, interrupted his career in the fall of 1996, and it was uncertain - even to him - whether he'd return to his bike. Sunday, after three weeks and 2,286 miles of racing in the 86th version of the event, Armstrong felt he had made his point. ``For those people who look at my case as an example, I would just say one thing: If you ever get a second chance in your life for something, go all the way,'' he said. The 90-mile ride from just south of Paris that finished with 10 circuits on the Champs Elysees was all but ceremonial for Armstrong, who has worn the leader's yellow jersey for the past two weeks and had a 7-minute 37-second lead over Swiss rider Alex Zulle. So even when Armstrong got a flat tire on the course before the pack reached Paris, he and his team just shrugged. He quickly got a new wheel from the mechanics in the team car, and teammates Kevin Livingston Kevin Livingston was a professional American cyclist. He was born in St. Louis, MO on May 24, 1973. He currently resides in Austin, TX. Livingston raced for eight years as a professional. His teams included Motorola, Cofidis, US Postal Service and Team Telekom. and Tyler Hamilton This article is about the cyclist. For the Canadian Idol contestant, see Tyler Hamilton (musician). For Toronto Star columnist, see Tyler Hamilton (reporter) Tyler Hamilton helped draft him to get back to the pack. Australian Robbie McEwen bolted over the line first in a sprint finish of 3 hours, 37 minutes, 39 seconds. The other 140 racers were given the ``same time,'' and the race was over. ``The last two days are kind of coming down for teams, after the Pyrenees,'' said Livingston. ``Tonight we're going to make up for that with a big party.'' No one could say for sure how many thousands of fans lined Paris' main drag as the racers rode from the Arc de Triomphe Arc de Triomphe Largest triumphal arch in the world. A masterpiece of Romantic Classicism, it is one of the best-known monuments of Paris. It stands at the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle, at the western terminus of the Champs-Élysées. to the Place de la Concorde For the painting, see . The Place de la Concorde is one of the major squares in Paris, France. . But the spectators, many of them waving American flags, stood six deep behind the barriers set up on the Champs Elysees on the sunny, 85-degree day. The man in the yellow jersey, along with a yellow helmet and yellow racing shoes, evoked cries of ``Lance! Lance! Lance!'' every time the pack whizzed past the fans. Armstrong made more than $400,000 for the final win, plus his three other stage wins, all of which will be split by the team, in cycling tradition. After putting a new yellow jersey over the one he already was wearing and raising his hands in victory, Armstrong bounded from the podium to climb into the stands and kiss his wife, Kristin, and mother, Linda. Hamilton, of Brookline, Mass., was the top American to finish behind Armstrong, almost 27 minutes back. It was the first Tour since 1926 in which the French didn't win a stage in their own race. They got some consolation, though, when Frenchman Richard Virenque Richard Virenque (born November 191969 in Casablanca, Morocco) is a retired French professional road racing cyclist. Height : 1m79. Weight 65kg. He is known as a climbing specialist and for his role in a highly-publicized doping scandal. was awarded the polka-dot jersey for the fifth time for winning the most climbing points. TOUR DE FRANCE RESULTS The final standings of the Tour de France, including rider, country, team and winning time (followed by amount of time each of the other top riders finished behind the winner): 1. Lance Armstrong, U.S., U.S. Postal, 91 hours, 32 minutes, 16 seconds. 2. Alex Zulle, Switzerland, Banesto, 7 minutes, 37 seconds behind. 3. Fernando Escartin, Spain, Kelme, 10:26. 4. Laurent Dufaux Laurent Dufaux (born May 20, 1969 in Montreux, Switzerland) was a professional road cyclist from 1991 - 2003. Major results
5. Angel Casero, Spain, Vitalico, 15:11. 6. Abraham Olano Abraham Olano Manzano (born on January 22, 1970 in Anoeta, Spain) is a former professional cyclist from Spain. He gained limited fame in 1995 when he became World Road Champion and in 1998 he won the World Time Trial Championship. , Spain, ONCE, 16:47. 7. Daniele Nardello, Italy, Mapei, 17:02. 8. Richard Virenque, France, Polti, 17:28. 9. Wladimir Belli, Italy, Festina, 17:37. 10. Andrea Peron, Italy, ONCE, 23:10. 11. Kurt Van de Wouwer, Belgium, Lotto, 23:32. 12. David Etxebarria, Spain, ONCE, 26:41. 13. Tyler Hamilton, U.S., U.S. Postal, 26:53. 14. Stephane Heulot, France, Francaise des Jeux, 27:58. 15. Roland Meier, Switzerland, Cofidis, 28:44. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos, 2 Boxes PHOTO (1--Cover--Color) TOUR DE LANCE Armstrong overcomes battle with cancer to become only second American to win cycling's premiere event. Laurent Rebours/Associated Press (2--Color) Armstrong is kissed by his wife, Kristin, left, and his mother, Linda, after winning the Tour de France. Laurent Rebours/Associated Press (3--Color) Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong of Texas waves his trophy Sunday following the third and final stage of the cycling race between Arpajon and Paris. Michel Spingler/Associated Press BOX: (1) TOUR DE FRANCE RESULTS (see text) (2) PAST CHAMPIONS |
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