Lance Armstrong Says His Tour Is 'Finished'

The Wall Street Journal 07/11/2010 16:58

Lance Armstrong grimaces after he crashed during the eighth stage of the Tour de France.

Lance Armstrong said his hopes of Tour de France victory are finished after he struggled in the Alps and was caught up in three crashes during an eighth stage won by Andy Schleck of Luxembourg on Sunday.

World champion Cadel Evans of Australia took the yellow jerseyat the end of the stage, with overnight leader Sylvain Chavanel -- like Armstrong -- falling behind the top contenders on the tough La Ramaz climb.

The Texan crossed the finish line nearly 12 minutes behind Schleck after the 117.4-mile run from Station des Rousses to the Morzine-Avoriaz ski resort.

``My Tour is finished,'' said Armstrong, who holds a record seven Tour victories and is riding in what he says will be his last try in cycling's showcase event. The 38-year-old plunged to 39th place overall.

Armstrong said he had a ``very, very bad day,'' but will continue the three-week race that ends July 25 in Paris.

Schleck showed he's one of the world's best climbers by surging to the head of the pack with less than a mile left and winning a two-man sprint ahead of Samuel Sanchez of Spain.

Schleck, the Saxo Bank team leader, clocked 4 hours, 54 minutes, 11 seconds, while Sanchez had the same time.

Dutch rider Robert Gesink was third, 10 seconds back -- as were defending champion Alberto Contador of Spain, and Evans. Armstrong was 11:45 back, in 61st place. Evans, a two-time Tour runner-up, leads Schleck by 20 seconds overall and Contador by 61 seconds. Schleck was runner-up last year.