Lance Armstrong, who seeks a record-equaling fifth straight Tour de France win, could only manage seventh place in Saturday's 6.5km prologue time trial, the Tour's first event. But no one thinks he is way off the mark.
"The thing with him is he is so, so calm. He thinks he's indestructible," Swiss rider Laurent Dufaux, who races for the Italian Alessio team, said.
The centennial Tour continues today, when the riders embark on a 168km trek from Paris east to the town of Meaux -- nationally famous for producing the popular cheese Brie.
The stage starts from the same spot, an inn called Le Reveil Matin, where the first ever Tour kicked off in 1903.
The relatively flat 168km course should help Armstrong ease back into the groove -- after the cobblestones of the Paris streets unsettled him in Saturday's short dash.
Even if it does not, there are still seven daunting mountain stages to come on the 23-day, 3,427.5km clockwise slog around France. That's when the master tactician that is Armstrong really starts to wear his rivals down. While others may fear the mountains, Armstrong relishes them.
"His age doesn't help him. It works against him physically," Dufaux said. "But that's not always crucial. He is exceptionally calm, confident and experienced. And he never panics, he knows how to stick in there."
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
RSS