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Tour de France Capsules: Armstrong stays 3rd at Tour; Haussler wins stage
COLMAR, France — Lance Armstrong stayed in third place after a wet and chilly ride Friday and lost a crucial ally for the rest of the Tour de France when teammate Levi Leipheimer withdrew because of a broken wrist.
Germany’s Heinrich Haussler won the 13th stage by outclassing the pack with a solo breakaway, and Italy’s Rinaldo Nocentini kept the yellow jersey for a seventh straight day.
Armstrong, the seven-time champion, remained eight seconds behind Nocentini. Astana teammate Alberto Contador, the 2007 Tour champion, is second, six seconds back. Armstrong, Contador and other favorites were 6 minutes, 43 seconds behind Haussler.
Leipheimer’s withdrawal is a blow to Astana and Armstrong. He is a four-time top-10 finisher at the Tour, including third place finish in 2007. He had been in fourth place, 39 seconds behind Nocentini.
He had surgery on the wrist Friday, and Astana said he would return to the United States as soon as possible to begin his recovery.
"My wrist hurts a lot but it doesn’t compare to the pain of watching the Tour leave me behind and not be able to ride the Tour with my teammates," Leipheimer said in a statement. "We’ve had a big battle so far. We’re the favorites, and I wanted to be part of that."
Leipheimer and Armstrong have a close relationship within Astana, which Armstrong says is riven by "tension" with Contador.
"He’s a good friend of mine so it makes it even more unfortunate, but that’s cycling," said Armstrong, stressing that Leipheimer’s absence is a big loss.
"You saw even there, in some stages in the Pyrenees, when there was an attack, we had four guys there. And now, one’s gone," Armstrong said. "Not only does it hurt us, I think it helps the others in terms of morale, and thinking perhaps that the team has been weakened."
At first, it appeared Leipheimer might remain in the race.
"It seemed like an insignificant crash that all of a sudden turned out to be pretty major," Armstrong said.
Leipheimer fell off his bike less than two miles from Thursday’s finish line in a crash involving two-time Tour runner-up Cadel Evans. He pulled out before riders began the day’s 124-mile stage through the rolling hills of northeast France that featured three big climbs, including the demanding Col du Platzerwasel.
Haussler, a Cervelo rider who won a stage at Paris-Nice in March, raced ahead of the second of two fellow breakaway riders in the last 31 miles and distanced himself from the peloton as the finish neared.
Haussler cupped his face in his hands and choked up with emotion as he crossed the line in 4:56:26 — 4:11 ahead of second-place Amets Txurruka of Spain. Brice Feillu of France was third, 6:13 back.
"I was really happy. I just got teary," said Haussler, who was born in Australia to a German father. "I just couldn’t believe it. ... I was just so nervous that I was going to crash."
Haussler, who collected his first Tour stage victory, entered the stage in 105th place overall — 55:24 behind Nocentini. He rose to 83rd overall with his win, 48:41 off the leader’s pace.
Leipheimer’s injury was not the only thing to trouble Armstrong. He was angered by the criticism from French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot, who said Astana riders stayed out of sight too long during a random doping check last week.
"Enough is enough," the 37-year-old Texan said. "This is ridiculous. We’ve been controlled more than anybody else on the race. We have had this team for a long time. We’ve never had a positive control. Yes, we are successful. Yes, we are the strongest team in the race. But enough of the (outcry) in the media."
Friday’s stage brought the return of rider earpieces. The International Cycling Union buckled under pressure from many teams and lifted a planned ban of them in the 13th stage. That decision meant riders raced with their customary electronic radio gear, with coaches informing them of possible attacks and hazards.
The ban had been in effect for Tuesday’s 10th stage, an experiment aimed at forcing riders to manage the course on their own in hopes of adding drama to the race. Many riders and teams called the move dangerous.
Saturday’s 14th stage cover 124 miles through plains from Colmar to Besancon. The leg comes a day before a trip into Switzerland and to the ski resort of Verbier that many riders believe will shake up the standings.
2 Tour riders hurt in suspected air-rifle shooting
COLMAR, France — Two Tour de France cyclists were slightly injured Friday in what their teams suspect was an air-rifle shooting.
New Zealand’s Julian Dean and Spain’s Oscar Freire, a three-time former world champion, were struck while riding in northeast France during the 13th stage.
Dean’s right index finger was injured. Freire’s team said he was hit in the thigh with a projectile that was removed. Both were expected to ride Saturday.
It was not immediately certain what weapon was used. But both teams — Dean’s Garmin Slipstream and Freire’s Rabobank — believe it was an air rifle.
"He (Dean) was very lucky," Garmin spokeswoman Marya Pongrace said by telephone. "He is a little shaken up."
Rabobank said in a statement the doctor told the team the injury to Freire "will not bother him too much."
Police were investigating, and Dean was to be interviewed at his hotel in Colmar later Friday. Rabobank said it intended to file a complaint.
The riders were hit during the descent of the demanding Col du Platzerwasel, about 22 miles from the finish of the stage between Vittel and Colmar, Rabobank said.
-- Samuel Petrequin
Armstrong lashes out at French sports minister
COLMAR, France — Lance Armstrong is fed up with criticism of his Astana team by the French sports minister.
Roselyne Bachelot said Astana riders at the Tour de France remained out of sight of an International Cycling Union inspector too long during a random doping test last week.
"Enough is enough," Armstrong said Friday. "This is ridiculous. We've been controlled more than anybody else on the race. We have had this team for a long time. We've never had a positive control. Yes, we are successful. Yes, we are the strongest team in the race. But enough of the (outcry) in the media."
According to French sports daily L'Equipe, a UCI official drank coffee with officials from Astana in Andorra last Saturday and didn't test the riders for nearly an hour.
"There was a little bit of avoidance going on," Bachelot said Thursday. "I hope it won't happen again."
Armstrong, who says he has been tested more than 30 times since he came back to competition this season, accused Bachelot of being "slightly political."
"Those are political statements, and they help to get attention — and perhaps it reinforces their commitment to the fight against doping," said the Austin cycling great. "But again, the facts are the facts.
"We are controlled more than anybody else. We are never positive. Our biological passports — compared to anybody else — the quote-unquote 'clean teams,' I will put them side by side every day of the week."
Before the race started on July 4 in Monaco, Bachelot had warned Armstrong that he would be "particularly monitored" for doping during the Tour.
The 37-year old Texan said he was always available for doping controls.
"When they knock at my door, I go down and give the blood," Armstrong said. "It's not as if I'm looking at my window and I see them coming and I stay in my room. I think there are people who think that but ... That's not the way it works now. That's not the way it has ever worked.
"It's also the Tour de France. You can't wake up guys on a day of a mountain stage at 6 a.m.," Armstrong said. "There is also a human aspect there."
According to Armstrong, the doping controllers arrived too early at the Astana hotel last Saturday before the second stage in the Pyrenees.
Following his last Tour victory, Armstrong railed against the "cynics and the skeptics" who didn't believe his triumphs were doping-free. A month after his retirement, L'Equipe reported that Armstrong's "B'' samples from the 1999 Tour contained EPO — a banned blood-boosting hormone. The newspaper is owned by race organizer ASO.
Armstrong insisted he was the victim of a "witch hunt," and a Dutch lawyer appointed by the UCI later cleared him.
"The key thing is — we all have to remember — yes we want the controls. Yes we want a clean event," Armstrong said before Friday's 13th stage.
After the incident in Andorra, French anti-doping chief Pierre Bordry accused the UCI of "laxity."
UCI president Pat McQuaid was surprised by Bordry's comments and denied allegations that the UCI "is making any difference with the riders."
Last year, the AFLD ran doping controls alone. The UCI is back to oversee testing this year, but in collaboration with the AFLD, which can target riders and ask the UCI to test them.
-- Samuel Petrequin
Hinault: Contador will win again - not Armstrong
COLMAR, France — Five-time Tour de France champion Bernard Hinault believes that Lance Armstrong won't win this year's race, saying the American's rivalry with Astana teammate Alberto Contador is motivating the Spaniard.
In an interview in Friday's edition of French sports newspaper L'Equipe, Hinault claimed Armstrong's age — 37 — and Contador's superior climbing skills mean the American won't win the Tour an eighth time, breaking his own record.
"I don't think so. He's of a certain age, and Contador is able to build a big lead in the mountains," said Hinault, the last Frenchman to win the Tour, in 1985. "In the time trial in Monaco, Armstrong lost 20 seconds in the first five kilometers, the uphill part. Believe me, it's a sign."
Hinault said he suspected there are efforts within Astana to get under Contador's skin but said they aren't working.
"They're trying, but it must be motivating for him. (Contador) is surprising me with his calm. He seems very calm and mentally ready, because this war didn't just start yesterday," Hinault said.
Hinault, whose antipathy for Armstrong has grown in recent years, said if Contador does win under these conditions "it will be a great victory."
Hinault said Armstrong's return to the Tour four years after his last victory made little impression on him.
"I couldn't care less about Armstrong. If he's at the Tour or not, it changes nothing. We have nothing in common. There's also the language barrier, so we've never been able to speak man to man," Hinault said. "He would have impressed me if at the height of his career, he raced the Giro (d'Italia), the classics. He is the champion of the Tour, nothing more."
A brief look at Friday's 13th stage of the Tour
COLMAR, France — A brief look at Friday's 13th stage of the Tour de France:
Stage: A 124.2-mile ride between Vittel and Colmar, featuring one difficult climb, the Col du Platzerwasel.
Winner: Heinrich Haussler of Germany, in a solo breakaway. Haussler, a 25-year-old Cervelo rider who won a stage in the Paris-Nice race in March, won ahead of Amets Txurruka of Spain. Brice Feillu of France was third.
Yellow Jersey: Rinaldo Nocentini of the AG2R-La Mondiale team held onto the overall lead by finishing in the main pack with Astana's Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador. Nocentini is the first Italian to wear the yellow jersey since Alberto Elli in 2000.
Quote of the Day: "It was really, really cold. To be honest, I don't remember a day in the Tour that has been colder than that one" — Lance Armstrong.
Next stage: Saturday's 14th stage is a 123.7-mile ride from Colmar to Besancon, featuring two small climbs.
Tour de France Results
1. Heinrich Haussler, Germany, Cervelo Test Team, 4 hours, 56 minutes, 26 seconds.
2. Amets Txurruka, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 4 minutes, 11 seconds behind.
3. Brice Feillu, France, Agritubel, 6:13.
4. Sylvain Chavanel, France, Quick Step, 6:31.
5. Peter Velits, Slovakia, Team Milram, 6:43.
6. Thor Hushovd, Norway, Cervelo Test Team, same time.
7. Vladimir Efimkin, Russia, AG2R-La Mondiale, same time.
8. Bradley Wiggins, Britain, Garmin-Slipstream, same time.
9. George Hincapie, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, same time.
10. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, same time.
11. Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Astana, same time.
12. Thierry Hupond, Skil-Shimano, same time.
13. Jens Voigt, Germany, Team Saxo Bank, same time.
14. Christian Knees, Germany, Team Milram, same time.
15. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, same time.
16. Grischa Niermann, Germany, Rabobank, same time.
17. Nicolas Roche, Ireland, AG2R-La Mondiale, same time.
18. Matteo Tosatto, Italy, Quick Step, same time.
19. David Loosli, Switzerland, Lampre-NGC, same time.
20. Alberto Contador, Spain, Astana, same time.
Also
23. Christian Vande Velde, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, same time.
26. Rinaldo Nocentini, Italy, AG2R-La Mondiale, same time.
27. Lance Armstrong, United States, Astana, same time.
93. Danny Pate, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 20:21.
151. Tyler Farrar, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 23:44.
162. David Zabriskie, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, same time.
Levi Leipheimer, United States, Astana, withdrew, broken wrist.
Overall Standings (After 13 stages)
1. Rinaldo Nocentini, Italy, AG2R-La Mondiale, 53:30:30.
2. Alberto Contador, Spain, Astana, :06.
3. Lance Armstrong, United States, Astana, :08.
4. Bradley Wiggins, Britain, Garmin-Slipstream, :46.
5. Andreas Kloeden, Germany, Astana, :54.
6. Tony Martin, Germany, Team Columbia-High Road, 1:00.
7. Christian Vande Velde, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 1:24.
8. Andy Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, 1:49.
9. Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, Liquigas, 1:54.
10. Luis Leon Sanchez, Spain, Caisse d'Epargne, 2:16.
11. Maxime Montfort, Belgium, Team Columbia-High Road, 2:21.
12. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Team Saxo Bank, 2:25.
13. Roman Kreuziger, Czech Republic, Liquigas, 2:40.
14. Vladimir Efimkin, Russia, AG2R-La Mondiale, 2:45.
15. Carlos Sastre, Spain, Cervelo Test Team, 2:52.
16. Mikel Astarloza, Spain, Euskaltel-Euskadi, 3:02.
17. Cadel Evans, Australia, Silence-Lotto, 3:07.
18. Kim Kirchen, Luxembourg, Team Columbia-High Road, 3:16.
19. Vladimir Karpets, Russia, Team Katusha, 3:49.
20. Brice Feillu, France, Agritubel, 3:56.
Also
28. George Hincapie, United States, Team Columbia-High Road, 5:25.
80. David Zabriskie, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 47:27.
158. Tyler Farrar, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 1:43:43.
159. Danny Pate, United States, Garmin-Slipstream, 1:44:33.
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_Arcalis, Andorra, high mountain, 224 km (139.2) (Brice Feillu, France; Rinaldo Nocentini, Italy)
July 11 — Eighth Stage, La Vella, Andorra_Saint-Girons, France, high mountain, 176.5 km (109.7) (Luis Leon Sanchez, Spain; Nocentini)
July 12 — Ninth Stage, Saint-Gaudens_Tarbes, high mountain, 160.5 km (99.7) (Pierrick Fedrigo, France; Nocentini)
July 13 — Rest Day, Limoges
July 14 — 10th Stage, Limoges_Issoudun, plain, 194.5 km (120.9) (Cavendish; Nocentini)
July 15 — 11th Stage, Vatan_Saint-Fargeau, plain, 192 km (119.3) (Cavendish; Nocentini)
July 16 — 12th Stage, Tonnerre_Vittel, plain, 211.5 km (131.4) (Nicki Sorensen, Denmark; Nocentini)
July 17 — 13th Stage, Vittel_Colmar, medium mountain, 200 km (124.3) (Heinrich Haussler, Germany; Nocentini)
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)
Elsewhere
UCI suspends 2 Spanish riders for doping with CERA
AIGLE, Switzerland (AP) — The International Cycling Union has suspended two Spanish riders who tested positive for the banned blood-boosting drug CERA.
The UCI said Friday that Inigo Landaluze tested positive in two blood samples last month, one taken during the Dauphine Libere race in France and the other out of competition.
Ricardo Serrano tested positive in a sample from the Tour of Switzerland.
The UCI provisionally suspended the riders until the Spanish cycling federation holds disciplinary hearings.
Neither rider is competing in the Tour de France.
The 32-year-old Landaluze won the Dauphine in 2005, although suspicions of doping shrouded the victory. The 30-year-old Serrano is already suspended for previous doping problems.
