Lance Armstrong Falls to 3rd Place

ARCALIS, Andorra (AP) -- Lance Armstrong dropped one spot to third place in the Tour de France on Friday, with rival and teammate Alberto Contador breaking away in the final sprint up the mountain to claim second.

Italy's Rinaldo Nocentini captured the yellow jersey from Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara after a punishing climb in the Pyrenees to complete the seventh stage. It was the first time the overall lead changed hands since Cancellara won the opening-day time trial in Monaco.

The 140-mile leg from Spain into Andorra, the first in high mountains of this three-week race, was won by Brice Feillu of France in a solo breakaway.

Armstrong, a seven-time champion coming out of retirement, said he was not as tired as he thought he'd be.

"Overall, I feel pretty good. ... Things didn't quite go according to plan that we set up earlier, but it didn't matter," he said. "It was a fine day overall."

The 37-year-old Texan began the stage a split second off the lead and now trails by eight. Contador, the 2007 Tour winner, is six seconds behind the leader. He finished 3 minutes, 26 seconds after Feillu.

Contador sped ahead in the last 1.2 miles, looking to seize the overall lead. He started the day 19 seconds behind Armstrong and finished 21 seconds before him.

In the final ascent, Armstrong hugged the wheel of Australia's Cadel Evans, who briefly attacked Armstrong and Contador.

"When you've got a rider away, my obligation is to the team," Armstrong said. "I had to stay on his wheel. You just got to stay on his wheel."

"That's not my specialty," he added. "But it's not bad at all, all things considered."

Nocentini and Feillu were part of a nine-man breakaway group that jumped out early in the stage, and the main contenders were happy to let them go because they aren't considered threats. Feillu, a 23-year-old rider for Agritubel and in his first Tour, fled the breakaway group about halfway up the last ascent.

Christophe Kern of France was second, five seconds back. Johannes Froehlinger of Germany was third, 25 seconds behind.

Feillu was hugged in the winner's circle by older brother Romain, who wore the yellow jersey for a day last year.

"It really makes me happy," Brice Feillu said.

"I had confidence in him. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it," added a teary Romain Feillu.

Nocentini, a 31-year-old cyclist with the AG2R-La Mondiale team, won a stage in Pasadena in the Tour of California this year. He came into the stage trailing Cancellara by 3:13. He is first Italian to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour since Alberto Elli in 2000.

Nocentini finished the stage in fourth place, 26 seconds behind Feillu. Cancellara tumbled out of the top rankings, crossing the finish 9:16 after Feillu in 67th place.

The trek from Barcelona to the ski resort of Arcalis was the longest stage of this Tour. Competitors scaled the demanding Serra-Seca pass before concluding the day's ride with one of the toughest climbs in cycling.

Two more days of racing in the Pyrenees await before a rest day Monday. Saturday's stage is a 110-mile route that features three hard climbs and finishes in Saint-Girons, France. The Tour ends July 26 in Paris.

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Tour de France Photos

A Saxo Bank staff member runs after Danish cycling team Team Saxo Bank (SAX)'s Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland to change his tyre after it flatted on July 10, 2009, during the 224 km and seventh stage of the 2009 Tour de France cycling race run between Barcelona and Andorre Arcalis. French cycling team Agritubel's Brice Feillu of France won the stage ahead of French cycling team Cofidis (COF)'s rider Christophe Kern of France and German cycling team Team Milram (MRM)'s rider Johannes Frohlinger of Germany. TOPSHOTS/AFP PHOTO JOEL SAGET (Photo credit should read JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

A pack of riders cycles in the Pyrenees mountains during the seventh stage of the 96th Tour de France cycling race between Barcelona and Andorre Arcalis, July 10, 2009. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel (ANDORRA SPORT CYCLING)

Reuters

ANDORRA - JULY 10: Alberto Contador of Spain and Team Astana in action during stage seven of the 2009 Tour de France from Barcelona to Andorra, on July 10, 2009 in Andorra. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alberto Contador

Getty Images

ANDORRA - JULY 10: Brice Feillu of France and AG2R La Mondiale took the King of the Mountains jersey after stage seven of the 2009 Tour de France from Barcelona to Andorra, on July 10, 2009 in Andorra. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brice Feillu

Getty Images

Stage winner Brice Feillu of France reacts on the podium after the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 224 kilometers (139.2 miles) with start in Barcelona, Spain, and finish in Arcalis ski resort, Andorra, Friday July 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)

New overall leader Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, reacts on the podium after the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 224 kilometers (139.2 miles) with start in Barcelona, Spain, and finish in Arcalis ski resort, Andorra, Friday July 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

New overall leader Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy reacts on the podium after the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 224 kilometers (139.2 miles) with start in Barcelona, Spain, and finish in Arcalis ski resort, Andorra, Friday July 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JULY 10: The riders prepare to start during stage seven of the 2009 Tour de France from Barcelona to Andorra, on July 10, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Getty Images

ANDORRA, SPAIN - JULY 10: Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy and AG2R La Mondiale celebrates taking the yellow jersey after stage seven of the 2009 Tour de France from Barcelona to Andorra, on July 10, 2009 in Andorra. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rinaldo Nocentini

Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-10-2009 @ 3:48PM

ptmkapsovar said...

The headline should read, "Cancellara loses the Yellow jersey".

7-11-2009 @ 12:14PM

wl944s said...

I'm a long time cyclist. I 'used' to like Armstrong. I think he is a great cyclist, but a first class A-hole.

7-10-2009 @ 6:46PM

tomboysue1212 said...

i hope lance wins again he deserves it as much as anyone maybe even more

7-10-2009 @ 4:46PM

Tom said...

Armstrong is only 8 seconds out of first with 15 days to ride. Contador is 6 seconds out of first. Both are on the same team and Contador had his day. Lance will support his team, setting his pace, blocking the wind and they will all get to to the Alps as a team where Astana becomes the vehicle for Lance Armstrong's ultimate victory and vindication.

7-10-2009 @ 4:55PM

paigelwilson said...

Isn't it interesting that you did NOT have an article on the TDF until Lance dropped (?) to 3rd. If you had paid attention, you would know what is going on.

7-10-2009 @ 5:36PM

vivaldi59 said...

Team Astana and Armstrong are were they need to be. With atleast two team members that can win the 2009 TDF, two weeks of raicing and a couple of defining mountain stages. The TDF is a chess game that you can ONLY lose this early in the race

7-10-2009 @ 6:10PM

Morgan said...

Well here's something to ponder: A physician I know stated that because Lance received testerone after his surgery for testicular cancer, it definitely acts to enhance his performance level. I'm just repeating what he said...not my opinion. What does this tell you. Interested in hearing comments about how others interpret his multiple winnings. I've heard his heart is larger which allows more blood flow and output, etc. Hey, he's a great athlete!

7-10-2009 @ 8:30PM

fahded25 said...

He also recieved EPO in the course of his recovery from chemo. Hes admitted to that and the testosterone.

As far as his Tour wins, the guy focused his training on nothing but the Tour. All the mountain stages he rode multiple times day after day when other guys were training for other races. Yeah he has an enlarged heart but he also has low lactate levels as well which hinder him getting fatigued. You combine everything together and its not hard to see how he could be as good as he is. Hes talented as all get out on a bike, World Champ in 93, and since the recovery from cancer, has the work ethic that cant be stopped.

7-10-2009 @ 6:37PM

got2be91 said...

I HOPE LANCE WINS IT ALL! http://askthecollegekid.blogspot.com/

7-10-2009 @ 8:17PM

alanjohn614 said...

Lance did just fine, this headline is stupid. Lance is part of a team and he did his job and stay on the wheel of a competitor while Lances teammate rode for the line. Team Astana will go into the mountains just fine.

7-10-2009 @ 8:50PM

ellie said...

This headline is so misleading and yes, as already said, STUPID.
Lance has a bigger heart, longer thighs and more motivation and determination than 99.9%. He is awesome. I cheer every time "the old guy" kicks butt~ He does not dope and does not need to dope. He is a volunteer on this team (no $) and he is doing what he loves for what he loves (cancer research) and the dude is friggin awesome~!!!!
GO LANCE!
Shame on you AOL.....just looking for the hooks and being misleading too boot!
This is a fabulous Tour this year. I hope Astana just takes it!!! They deserve it after getting screwed last year. Awesome team Johann should be so Proud!

7-10-2009 @ 9:19PM

ltrask8095 said...

GO LANCE ! ! !

7-11-2009 @ 12:24AM

Doug said...

Lance will not win the Tour.

7-11-2009 @ 10:29AM

crowbearcottage said...

okay, Karnac. Do you know the winning lottery numbers as well?

7-11-2009 @ 1:38AM

gregorydarson said...

RRRRRRRROOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7-13-2009 @ 1:43PM

Emily Guevara said...

Thanks to Lance the TDF is exciting again! I love Tour d' France, with or without Lance but him being part of this year bring energy and excitement.He is my inspiration in my professional life...never give up eye on the price! I can see him in yellow jersey on July 26...but team Astana need to figure out who is the leader, if Contador, did again what he did today, I think Lance should attack, sorry. lance is not a domestic he is the boss! He will never come back at the TDF if he knows that he didn't have a chance.

7-11-2009 @ 6:02AM

Gary said...

In his previous Tour de France wins Lance Armstrong seemed to have his best performances in the Pyrenes Mountains. He would almost always take the lead and distance himself from the rest of the pack on the steep uphill grades. But in this one it appears as if his age, or perhaps the youth of the other riders have closed the gap compared to his past dominance in this leg of the race. I hope he is able to pull ahead for his 8th win.