Armstrong 5th in Tour de Georgia
Lance is just practicing for Tour De France 2005.
Armstrong 5th in Tour de Georgia
Armstrong 5th in Tour de Georgia
ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- Lance Armstrong is ready to pass the peloton to a new group of American cyclists.
After the Tour de France, of course.
Armstrong was a team player Sunday, helping fellow American Tom Danielson win the Tour de Georgia in Alpharetta, Ga., for the biggest victory of his fledgling career.
As for Armstrong, his focus is firmly on France, where he hopes to add to his already unprecedented streak of six straight wins on the Champs-Elysees before fading into retirement.
"The object remains the Tour, and I think I'm on track," Armstrong said. "I didn't think I was good enough to win (the Georgia race), but I felt better toward the end of the race than I did at the beginning, so that's a good sign."
Armstrong, wearing No. 1 on the back of his jersey, settled for 22nd place on the day and fifth overall. He was 1 minute, 42 seconds behind Danielson, his Discovery Channel teammate.
"It's time for a new crop, a new generation," Armstrong said.
Danielson, a 27-year-old former mountain biker who joined the team this season, grabbed the lead Saturday during a grueling climb up Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Georgia. With no chance of winning, Armstrong joined the rest of the team in a supporting role, ensuring that the yellow-shirted Danielson stayed out of trouble and close enough to the front to guard his narrow lead over Levi Leipheimer.
"I knew I was in good hands," said Danielson, whose winning time was 26 hours, 57 minutes, 56 seconds.
Gordon Fraser beat a huge pack of riders to the finish line, edging Health Net teammate Greg Henderson of New Zealand. Leipheimer was 18th and Danielson 29th, but it didn't matter. The top 75 riders all were credited with the same time -- 4:59 -- for the final 125-mile stage.
"I'm just as happy to see the team win as I am to get an individual win," Armstrong said. "Tom is riding great."
Danielson was motivated to get into road cycling after seeing an advertisement featuring Armstrong, but he shot down any comparisons to Armstrong.
"There will never be another Lance Armstrong, that's for sure," Danielson said.
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