Saving it up : Lance keeps lead, coasts before climb into Pyrenees
Saving it up : Lance keeps lead, coasts before climb into Pyrenees
MONTPELLIER, France (AP) -- Lance Armstrong retained his overall lead in the Tour de France's flat, fast 13th stage across southern France, won by Robbie McEwen in a sprint Friday.
The win was McEwen's third of this Tour. Armstrong and his main rivals finished together before the Tour goes back to the mountains, with the Pyrenees stages starting Saturday.
Armstrong's lead over Mickael Rasmussen of Denmark stayed at 38 seconds, with French rider Christophe Moreau still third, 2:34 behind the six-time champion.
Italian Ivan Basso stayed 2:40 back in fourth. Jan Ullrich of Germany is 4:02 behind, but rose to eighth in the standings after Spain's Alejandro Valverde dropped out of the Tour because of an inflamed left knee. Valverde, winner of the first Alpine stage, had been fifth overall.
'Everybody is waiting' for the Pyrenees, said Armstrong, explaining why he and his rivals didn't do battle over the 107.8-mile trek from Miramas to Montpellier.
McEwen attributed his victory to his Davitamon-Lotto team, which helped reel in a group of riders that were ahead, setting the Australian sprinter up for his dash to the line.
'It's not a victory for McEwen, it's a victory for Davitamon-Lotto,' he said. 'Unbelievable.'
MONTPELLIER, France (AP) -- Lance Armstrong retained his overall lead in the Tour de France's flat, fast 13th stage across southern France, won by Robbie McEwen in a sprint Friday.
The win was McEwen's third of this Tour. Armstrong and his main rivals finished together before the Tour goes back to the mountains, with the Pyrenees stages starting Saturday.
Armstrong's lead over Mickael Rasmussen of Denmark stayed at 38 seconds, with French rider Christophe Moreau still third, 2:34 behind the six-time champion.
Italian Ivan Basso stayed 2:40 back in fourth. Jan Ullrich of Germany is 4:02 behind, but rose to eighth in the standings after Spain's Alejandro Valverde dropped out of the Tour because of an inflamed left knee. Valverde, winner of the first Alpine stage, had been fifth overall.
'Everybody is waiting' for the Pyrenees, said Armstrong, explaining why he and his rivals didn't do battle over the 107.8-mile trek from Miramas to Montpellier.
McEwen attributed his victory to his Davitamon-Lotto team, which helped reel in a group of riders that were ahead, setting the Australian sprinter up for his dash to the line.
'It's not a victory for McEwen, it's a victory for Davitamon-Lotto,' he said. 'Unbelievable.'
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