Armstrong not done yet
ByReuters
Published 19/05/2004 at 07:41 GMT
Lance Armstrong starts the last phase of preparation for a sixth victory in the Tour de France this week fitter than last year and is not considering retiring. U.S. Postal sports director Johan Bruyneel, who led the American to his five successive Tour vi
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"Lance seems to me very well mentally. Physically, he's fitter than last year, which is not difficult given the problems he had," Bruyneel said at the start of the Tour du Languedoc-Roussillon.
The stage race held in the south of France will be another test for Armstrong on his return to Europe after winning the Tour of Georgia last month.
"I can say Lance was very dedicated in his stage checks," Bruyneel added.
As usual the Texan studied the major stages of July's Tour, especially the Alpe d'Huez climb on which a potentially decisive individual time trial will be held shortly before the finish.
Belgian Bruyneel said Armstrong rode the famous hill a dozen times and tested a new bike on it. The American won a stage at the top of the Alpe d'Huez in 2001.
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"Lance also went to check the next stage to Le Grand Bornand but he still has a lot of stages to work on," he added.
Bruyneel said fans should not expect Armstrong to compete for victory in the Tour du Languedoc-Roussillon or in the Dauphine Libere race, also in France, in two weeks.
"After the problems he had last year he decided to focus on the Tour and take it easy in events like this but if the race dictates he might be involved in the fight for victory," he said.
Armstrong will also try out some of his potential Tour team mates on the roads of southern France. Jose Azevedo, Manuel Beltran, Viaceslav Ekimov, Benoit Joachim, Benjamin Noval, Pavel Padrnos and Jose-Luis Ribiera will assist him in the Tour du Languedoc-Roussillon.
Bruyneel said no decision has yet been made about Armstrong taking part in the Athens Olympics but denied a report in the Italian sports paper Tuttosport that the American would retire after the Tour.
"The article did not quote Lance or anyone close to him. I think it's wrong. I'm even certain it is. I can even tell you that we have found a sponsor for the team next season when U.S. Postal service stop their involvement," he said.
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