Tour de France Capsules: Armstrong stays a split second off Tour lead
BARCELONA, Spain - Lance Armstrong remained a split second behind leader Fabian Cancellara on Thursday after a day of treacherous riding in the rain and the mountains looming at the Tour de France.
Thor Hushovd of Norway led a mass sprint finish to capture the sixth stage along wet roads south of the French border in Spain.
Cancellara of Switzerland stayed just ahead of the seven-time champion following the 113-mile ride from Gerona to Barcelona.
"I'm just too, too happy," said Hushovd, who won the best sprinter's jersey at the 2005 Tour. "It's true that it was a nervous day, too, because it was raining and the roads were slippery."
Hushovd, of the Cervelo team, collected his seventh Tour stage win by edging two Spaniards in the final sprint - three-time world champion Oscar Freire, the runner-up, followed by Jose Joaquin Rojas.
They finished in 4 hours, 21 minutes, 33 seconds, the same time as 40 other riders, including Armstrong and Cancellara in the main pack.
David Millar of Britain and Americans David Zabriskie and George Hincapie were among the breakaway riders who attacked, only to be reeled in by the pack. Millar was in either alone in the lead or in the breakaway group for about three-quarters of the stage.
Two crashes marred the six miles - one involving Yukiya Arashiro of Japan, another involving former world champion Tom Boonen of Belgium, one of Hushovd's main rivals.
The three-week race enters its first big mountain challenge Friday with a ride into the Pyrenees. The 140-mile trip from Barcelona to Andorra features an uphill finish in one of cycling's toughest climbs. The Tour ends July 26 in Paris.
"Tomorrow is an important day," Armstrong said. "I don't know if it's the most important day, but it's definitely a big appointment on this Tour."
Alberto Contador, the 2007 Tour champion, has said he's eager to get to the mountains - and he could make his move then.
Cancellara has been the only man to wear the yellow jersey so far. Armstrong is only a fraction of second behind the Swiss rider and Contador is third, 19 seconds back.
Cancellara isn't expected to fare as well as Contador, Armstrong and other strong climbers in the mountains. Cancellara seemed a bit resigned to the prospect he might now lose the lead.
"What do I have to do tomorrow? It's a good question," he said. "It's been a beautiful week to be in this yellow jersey. ... I'm going to try to defend it but I don't know how well I can do."
Other strong climbers and potential title contenders who have fallen behind on the flat stretches include 2008 Tour winner Carlos Sastre, two-time runner up Cadel Evans and brothers Andy and Frank Schleck.
"If I see a situation that is favorable to me, and if my legs respond, then I'm going to try and go for it," Contador said on Spanish television.
Armstrong seemed to be bracing for as much from Contador.
"I know Alberto wants to assert himself in the race. I don't need a team meeting to know that," the 37-year-old Texan said.
"If he goes and nobody can hang with him, I'll just stay with the other leaders," he added. "But I'll show up tomorrow morning, try to do my best, get to the top as quick as I can, and we'll see."
Tour de France results
Thursday
At Barcelona, Spain
Sixth Stage
112.8 miles from Gerona, Spain to Barcelona
1. Thor Hushovd, Norway, Cervelo Test Team, 4 hours, 21 minutes, 33 seconds.
2. Oscar Freire, Spain, Rabobank, same time.
3. Jose Joaquin Rojas, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, same time.
4. Gerald Ciolek, Germany, Team Milram, same time.
5. Franco Pellizotti, Italy, Liquigas, same time.
6. Filippo Pozzato, Italy, Team Katusha, same time.
7. Alessandro Ballan, Italy, Lampre-NGC, same time.
8. Rinaldo Nocentini, Italy, AG2R-La Mondiale, same time.
9. Cadel Evans, Australia, Silence-Lotto, same time.
10. Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland, Team Saxo Bank, same time.
11. Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Astana, same time.
12. Nicolas Roche, Ireland, AG2R-La Mondiale, same time.
13. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, same time.
14. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas, same time.
15. Sebastien Rosselier, Belgium, Quick Step, same time.
16. Mark Cavendish, Britain, Team Columbia-HTC, same time.
17. David Millar, Britain, Garmin-Slipstream, same time.
18. George Hincapie, United States, Team Columbia-HTC, same time.
19. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Republic, Liquigas, same time.
20. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Astana, same time.
Also
27. Lance Armstrong, United States, Astana, same time.
36. Christian Vande Velde, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, same time.
104. David Zabriskie, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 1 minute, 37 seconds behind.
170. Danny Pate, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 8:14.
172. Tyler Farrar, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 10:14.
Overall Standings
(After six stages)
1. Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland, Team Saxo Bank, 19:29:22.
2. Lance Armstrong, United States, Astana, same time.
3. Alberto Contador, Spain, Astana, :19.
4. Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Astana, :23.
5. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Astana, :31.
6. Bradley Wiggins, Britain, Garmin-Slipstream, :38.
7. Tony Martin, Germany, Team Columbia-High Road, :52.
8. Christian Vande Velde, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 1:16.
9. Gustav Larsson, Sweden, Team Saxo Bank, 1:22.
10. Maxime Montfort, Belgium, Team Columbia-High Road, 1:29.
11. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Republic, Liquigas, 1:31.
12. George Hincapie, United States, Team Columbia-High Road, 1:36.
13. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas, same time.
14. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, 1:41.
15. Haimar Zubeldia, Spain, Astana, 1:41.
16. Yaroslav Popovych, Ukraine, 1:45.
17. Jens Voigt, Germany, Team Saxo Bank, 2:03.
18. Kim Kirchen, Luxembourg, Team Columbia-HTC, 2:16.
19. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, 2:17.
20. David Millar, Britain, Garmin-Slipstream, 2:28.
Also
22. David Zabriskie, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 2:43.
164. Tyler Farrar, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 16:11.
169. Danny Pate, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 19:21.
Tour de France Stages-Winners
July 4 - First Stage, Monaco-Monaco, individual time trial, 15.5 kilometers (9.6 miles) (stage: Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland; yellow jersey: Cancellara)
July 5 - Second Stage, Monaco-Brignoles, plain, 187 km (116.2) (Mark Cavendish, Britain; Cancellara)
July 6 - Third Stage, Marseille-La Grande-Motte, plain, 196.5 km (122.1) (Cavendish; Cancellara)
July 7 - Fourth Stage, Montpellier-Montpellier, team time trial, 39 km (24.2) (Astana; Cancellara)
July 8 - Fifth Stage, Le Cap d'Agde-Perpignan, plain, 196.5 km (122.1) (Thomas Voeckler, France; Cancellara)
July 9 - Sixth Stage, Gerona, Spain-Barcelona, plain, 181.5 km (112.8) (Thor Hushovd, Norway; Cancellara)
July 10 - Seventh Stage, Barcelona-Andorra Arcalis, Andorra, high mountain, 224 km (139.2)
July 11 - Eighth Stage, Andorra-la-Vieille-Saint-Girons, France, high mountain, 176.5 km (109.7)
July 12 - Ninth Stage, Saint-Gaudens-Tarbes, high mountain, 160.5 km (99.7)
July 13 - Rest Day, Limoges
July 14 - 10th Stage, Limoges-Issoudun, plain, 194.5 km (120.9)
July 15 - 11th Stage, Vatan-Saint-Fargeau, plain, 192 km (119.3)
July 16 - 12th Stage, Tonnerre-Vittel, plain, 211.5 km (131.4)
July 17 - 13th Stage, Vittel-Colmar, medium mountain, 200 km (124.3)
July 18 - 14th Stage, Colmar-Besancon, plain, 199 km (123.7)
July 19 - 15th Stage, Pontarlier-Verbier, Switzerland, high mountain, 207.5 km (128.9)
July 20 - Rest Day, Verbier
July 21 - 16th Stage, Martigny, Switzerland-Bourg-Saint-Maurice, France, high mountain, 159 km (98.8)
July 22 - 17th Stage, Bourg-Saint-Maurice-Le Grand-Bornand, high mountain, 169.5 km (105.3)
July 23 - 18th Stage, Annecy-Annecy, individual time trial, 40.5 km (25.2)
July 24 - 19th Stage, Bourgoin-Jallieu-Aubenas, plain, 178 km (110.6)
July 25 - 20th Stage, Montelimar-Mont Ventoux, high mountain, 167 km (103.8)
July 26 - 21st Stage, Montereau-Fault-Yonne-Paris-Champs-Elysees, plain, 164 km (101.9)
Total: 3,459 kms (2,149.5 miles)
Tour of Missouri faces potential cancellation
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Tour of Missouri cycling race is in danger of cancellation due to state budget cuts.
Organizers say the $1.5 million reduction for the tourism division being considered by Gov. Jay Nixon could keep the September race from happening.
The Department of Economic Development recommended the cut this week in response to Nixon's request for agencies to identify savings in the state budget.
The state tourism division supplies just under half of the race's $3.3 million budget. Nixon spokesman Jack Cardetti said a decision on the cut will be made in several weeks.
Medalist Sports is managing the Missouri race. Executive Chris Aronhalt (AIR'-uhn-holt) says the $1.5 million already has been frozen by Nixon's administration.
