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Lance Armstrong Second at Paris-Camembert
The United States Postal Service Pro Cycling Team's Lance Armstrong, coming off a disappointing finish after being caught behind a late race crash at Saturday's Amstel Gold World Cup event, finished a strong second Tuesday at Paris-Camembert, a 20- kilometer event from Magnanville to Vimoutiers, France. Despite crashing himself with 15 kms remaining, Armstrong was able to record one of his top performances of the year.
"The crash put him in a bad position and he had to make a big effort to come back," USPS Director Sportif Johan Bruyneel said. "Lance and the team rode well at Amstel, but he didn't have the distance in his legs for a World Cup event. Today the distance was a bit shorter (50 kms shorter). And even though you cannot compare Paris-Camembert to Amstel, it still was a hard race. He is right on schedule."
With under 10 kms remaining, three riders from an earlier break that lasted over 70 kms was caught by the lead group of riders, one that included Armstrong and eventual race winner Didier Rous of Bonjour. Once the three riders were caught, Rous launched a counter attack and was able to hold on for the victory. Armstrong out-sprinted Euskaltel's Igor Flores for second place.
Bruyneel was pleased with how the team raced, saying they controlled much of the day's action while placing riders such as Marty Jemison and Tyler Hamilton in every significant break.
"Everyone did a great job," Bruyneel said. "Finishing the first part of the season with a good result and a good feeling is important for the riders. If you finish the first part on a bad note, you need to climb up mentally and physically. For the riders, a good result makes a lot of difference. Now we shall start a second part of the cycle, the real Tour de France preparation. We will go to Gippingen (the team's next race this Sunday) and give it another try."
Along with Armstrong, Jemison and Hamilton, other starters in today's race for the USPS were Viatcheslav Ekimov, Steffen Kjaergaard, Christian Vande Velde, Cedric Vasseur and Stive Vermaut.
PARIS-CAMEMBERT
1. Didier Rous, Bonjour; 208 kms in 4:46:00
2. Lance Armstrong, USPS; at :06
3. Igor Flores, Euskaltel; s.t.
4. Yvon Ledanois, La Francaise des Jeux; s.t.
5. Patrice Halgand, Jean Delatour; s.t. |
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