Strong performance on Tour de Suisse’s Queen Stage bodes well
After a long, difficult season marked by mishap, bad luck, crashes, and colossal accusations from former teammate, Floyd Landis, seven-time Tour de France champion, Lance Armstrong, seems to be getting things under control at just the right time. After his first major day in the mountains this season, in a stage that included 17,000 feet of climbing, Armstrong can look back with satisfaction following his 5th place finish into La Punt.
Armstrong could not follow the furious accelerations of first Andy Schleck and then Robert Gesink, but 5th place on the day, only 42 seconds behind a raging Gesink went a long way to erasing at least some of the doubts.
Armstrong admits to some good feelings following his result on Wednesday: “Overall, I’m quite happy. It was a long day and also a good test. To be honest, I suffered at the beginning of the last climb (the hors categorie Albulapass). I could not find my rhythm…overall, I am satisfied.”
The 1993 World Champion now sits 7th overall, 55 seconds behind new leader, Robert Gesink. In years gone by, this would be a fairly strong position for the renowned time trialist, but since his return last season, Armstrong has struggled in the discipline that was once one of his biggest assets.
Armstrong admits as much: “In recent years, my time trials have been disappointing. We’ll see what happens on Sunday, but I will go as hard as I can.”
If Armstrong’s form can continue to improve, he’ll also have the help of one of the strongest teams in the world at his disposal. Two of his most important teammates were solid, if unspectacular, in Stage 6. Armstrong was content with the effort of Levi Leipheimer and Andreas Kloeden though: “Both Levi and Andreas rode strong, so now we are ready for the Tour de France.”
Armstrong’s long-time manager, Johan Bruyneel, has been fairly quiet about Armstrong’s form so far this year, but is hopeful that he’s moving in the right direction and is confident in Lance’s form and assures that: “Lance will be better than last year.”
“Theoretically, he should be able to ride the Tour de France at a very high level. Lance is good, but he is simultaneously 38 years old, and he cannot run from that. You see it in the speed and the loss of explosive power in areas like the prologue. Younger riders are much faster out of the starting blocks. One should remember that he last won the Tour in 2005. He’s now four years older,” said Bruyneel to Sportwereld.
It’s not all bad for the Texan though according to Bruyneel: “On the other hand, it speaks to his experience. The tour is long, and everyone can be defeated over a period of three weeks, even Alberto Contador. The challenge is to seize every opportunity.”