Tour de France - Armstrong fails to turn the clock back

Eurosport - Sat, 04 Jul 19:03:00 2009

It was almost like the good old days for former champion Lance Armstrong on the docks of Monaco's old port for the Tour de France opener on Saturday - yet not quite.

CYCLING 2009 Tour de France 1re étape SLIDE Lance Armstrong - 0

There was the same media scrum, same attention, same screams and shouts when the American started the 15.5 kilometre time trial at 16:17 local time for his first Tour ride since his last victory in 2005.

But Armstrong's legs could obviously tell the difference and with a time of 20 minutes 12 seconds, he was unable to recover the yellow jersey that had become his summer uniform for a record seven years between 1999 and 2005.

"I was a bit nervous but it is logical. I'm just happy to be here even if we don't win today because there are a lot of other things I could be doing right now," the 37-year-old told a pack of journalists outside his Astana team bus.

The media had flocked around it for hours before the start, watching his every move, from his 20-minute warm-up in his yellow Livestrong outfit to his ride to the starting ramp under bodyguard escort.

There were no boos or jeers from the crowd as in the past, when sections of the French public would loudly express their dislike for the cancer survivor.

"It was not the French public, but the Monegasque public," joked Armstrong, who returned to the sport in January after 3 1/2 years of retirement.

"Yet there were Lance signs on the roads and lots of cheers. It was like a home race," he added.

The support was not enough for Armstrong to turn back the clock and although he crossed the line with the fastest time of the day so far, it was obvious his first place would not hold.

"In 2005, I would have destroyed the race on such a course," Armstrong had said before the start.

In 2009, the script was a little bit different but the Texan had not made any false promises.

He was modest and honest about his performance when he finally fronted a scrum of cameras and mikes which threatened to collapse any minute, forcing him to turn away to restore some order.

"We will see where the other ones are but I did not have big illusions," he said.

"It is a difficult course for sure but I think it is difficult for everybody. It is very technical, it is hard to find a rhythm but that's logical after years away," he added.

Before talking to the media, Armstrong had stayed in the bus to rest a little and watch team mate Levi Leipheimer's race on television. His compatriot took 10 seconds off him.

"I'm not so far from a real specialist like Levi, which is pretty good," he said.

"It was in any case much better than the Tour of California or the Giro."

The American, dead serious during his long reign when victory was his one and only goal, finally acknowledged he had had "fun".

The new Armstrong is definitely different.

Stage Two LIVE at 12:15 on Sunday July 5 on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Reuters

Comment 1 - 17 of 17

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  1. johmk , it don't make no difference who crosses­ the line first as long as them all come in the same­ time , Contador has a 4" advantage over Kloeden ,­ who is the second Astana's best time, thus Contador­ in yellow , and Lance eating crow.
    Bon appetite Lance.

    From Seahawk, on Sun 5 Jul 1:27AM

  2. Who's your daddy Lance ???
    WWWWWWHHHHOOOOOO ­­­ ISSSSSSSS YOOOUUUUUURRRRRRRRR ­­­ DDDDAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDDYYYYY ????????

    Now you know who­­­ is your daddy , Contador .

    And it looks like you­ could­ have multiples daddies , Contador , Kloeden ,­ Levi.

    Do­ yourself a favor Lance,­ go back to your­ sorryass­ foundation .

    Click

    From Seahawk, on Sun 5 Jul 1:16AM

  3. Who's your daddy Lance ???
    WWWWWWHHHHOOOOOO ­­­ ISSSSSSSS YOOOUUUUUURRRRRRRRR ­­­ DDDDAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDDYYYYY ????????

    Now you know who­­­ is your daddy , Contador .

    And it looks like you­ could­ have multiples daddies , Contador , Kloeden ,­ Levi.

    Do­ yourself a favor Lance,­ go back to your­ sorryass­ foundation .

    Click

    From Seahawk, on Sun 5 Jul 1:16AM

  4. So, we have Contador, Kloden, Leipheimer &­ Armstrong finishing in this order in the time trial.­ Who is the leader of the team? Who is going to cross­ the finish line FIRST in the TTT on Tuesday? It better­ be CONTADOR!

    From JohnK, on Sat 4 Jul 11:22PM

  5. lots of a55hole comments here,10th place is very good­ considering menchov,schlecks,sastre performance...LA­ still got it,maybe not for win but for top10 in­ paris...how many 38 years old riders coming back after­ 3 years retirement did that before him?no one...in fact­ majority of 38 old are already retired,you have to give­ him credit in every other team he d been leader for­ GC...great TT and i wish him best of luck

    From xangtzu, on Sat 4 Jul 10:51PM

  6. I see that the Lance knockers are at it again.For­ goodness sake it was only the 1st day
    of 21.He can hold­ his head up high,he didn't disgrace­ himself,let's see what happens as
    the rest of the­ Tour unfolds.Obviously the mountain stages will be the­ test of his strength.So don't write him off.

    From jacreesy, on Sat 4 Jul 10:50PM

  7. Great job Lance and the whole Astana Team! I know Lance­ will continue to be professional and do what's best­ for the team. If he is the strongest in the Mt. stages­ he should take advantage of his peaking performance. If­ Contador, Levi, or Kloeden are in the best position to­ win, he should pull and protect the best team­ memberthat has the chance to win the geratest stage­ race in the cycling world, Le Tour de France!

    From berkshireendurance, on Sat 4 Jul 10:26PM

  8. victorschipolrijk: You are an @#$%. Period.

    From merkadam, on Sat 4 Jul 10:10PM

  9. Great to see Lance back at the Tour.

    From charlesdavidhoward, on Sat 4 Jul 9:54PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I wish Armstrong would just go away. Sycophants in the­ media (sporting and general) have made him an unwanted­ and unnecessary distraction. he could reach Paris or ,­ equally, have "DNF" after his name, neither­ would surprise. One thing is certain:he hasn't a­ cat in hell's chance of winning.

    From charly.beagrie, on Sat 4 Jul 9:46PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Who's your daddy Lance ???
    WWWWWWHHHHOOOOOO ­­ ISSSSSSSS YOOOUUUUUURRRRRRRRR ­­ DDDDAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDDYYYYY ????????

    Now you know who­­ is your daddy , Contador .

    And it looks like you could­ have multiples daddies , Contador , Kloeden , Levi.

    Do­ yourself a favor Lance,­ go back to your sorryass­ foundation .

    Click

    From Seahawk, on Sat 4 Jul 9:31PM

  12. If Lance could beat Contador in time trial, when he­ would beat Contador in mountains. Who is the leader of­ Astana?

    After all Armstrong has good result today,­ he's got a 3 years not drive a cycle, and he was­ 10th, and many riders today are disapointment.

    In­ thusday Astana i going to have yellow jersey

    From bobcha78, on Sat 4 Jul 9:23PM

  13. Well, if he can't keep up with Contador in a time­ trial I wouldn't hold out much hope for him in the­ Alps.

    From James W, on Sat 4 Jul 8:57PM

  14. 4th best rider in his team. Better order an extra large­ jersey to stuff full of bottles over the next 3 weeks.

    From keir_williams, on Sat 4 Jul 8:54PM

  15. it might be a mistake to count Lance out!! let's­ wait for the mountains.

    From Tamerair, on Sat 4 Jul 8:48PM

  16. good on the old man. top 10 after3 1/2 years out is­ great. here's hoping it can be a top 10 in paris!

    From johnadodd, on Sat 4 Jul 8:46PM

  17. He did look nervous, but for an old guy it was great to­ see him in the Top 10. Well done Lance!

    From Liz S, on Sat 4 Jul 7:39PM
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