French minister says Lance Armstrong will be ‘particularly monitored’ for doping at TourPARIS — France’s sports minister says Lance Armstrong will be “particularly monitored” in anti-doping checks at the Tour de France this year. Older, mellower Armstrong more likely to conquer French hearts at TourMONACO — For all of Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France victories, he still hasn’t won the hearts of the French. That may be about to change. Tour de France riders undergo pre-race blood tests, part of biological passport programMONACO — Cycling’s governing body says all 180 riders expected to start the Tour de France — plus one — have undergone planned pre-race blood tests. Injured climber Dan Martin to miss Tour de France with knee injury, replaced by MaaskantMONACO — Mountain specialist Dan Martin will miss the Tour de France with a knee injury. He will be replaced in the Garmin-Slipstream team by Dutch rider Martijn Maaskant. Can Lance Armstrong clinch his eighth Tour de France?
AP Interview: His ambition still burning, an older Armstrong eyes another Tour de France crownPARIS — Lance Armstrong believes he can win an eighth Tour de France title, well aware his aging legs are not as strong as they used to be. He is also willing to put such ambitions aside if it means helping teammate Alberto Contador win. 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong says he’s ready for secondary role this timePARIS — Lance Armstrong says he’s capable of winning an eighth Tour de France but is ready, if necessary, to put his ambitions on hold for teammate and rival Alberto Contador. The wheel turns for suspected dopers with officials to test targeted riders at Tour de FrancePARIS — When the Tour de France starts Saturday, some cyclists may as well wear targets on their backs. French anti-doping head guarantees fair treatment for Armstrong at Tour de FrancePARIS — When Lance Armstrong and France’s anti-doping agency were at odds last spring over a surprise doping test, the seven-time Tour de France champion’s return to the Tour appeared to fade. Armstrong’s return brings buzz to Tour de France bracing for next round in doping fightPARIS — France’s anti-doping crusaders are stockpiling needles for testing blood and cups for sampling urine, and two new books on Lance Armstrong have just been released in France. Lance Armstrong takes back seat to Alberto Contador in Astana lineup for Tour de FrancePARIS — Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong will return to the Tour de France in the unfamiliar role of support rider after his Astana team chose 2007 winner Alberto Contador as its leader for the race. Astana announces Tour de France roster around Alberto Contador and Lance ArmstrongPARIS — Astana announced its lineup for the Tour de France on Thursday, with its challenge built around 2007 winner Alberto Contador as its leader and seven-time champion Lance Armstrong. Team says Spain’s Alejandro Valverde won’t race in Tour de FrancePARIS — Top-ranked cyclist Alejandro Valverde’s team says the Spanish rider will not compete in the Tour de France because of a doping ban in Italy. Man faces 3 years in prison for stealing Lance Armstrong’s bike during Tour of CaliforniaSACRAMENTO — A Sacramento man is facing prison for stealing Lance Armstrong’s bicycle while the seven-time Tour de France winner was competing in California. Lance Armstrong wins 1-day Nevada City Classic in Northern Calif.NEVADA CITY, Calif. — Lance Armstrong won the Nevada City Classic on Sunday night, holding off teammate Levi Leipheimer in the challenging one-day race in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Martin wins 8th stage of Tour of Switzerland; Valjavec retains slim overall leadCRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Tony Martin of Germany has won the eighth stage of the Tour of Switzerland, and Tadej Valjavec of Slovenia clung to the overall lead. Armstrong among 6 riders picked for Astana Cycling Tour de France teamLance Armstrong will be on Astana Cycling’s final nine-rider roster for the Tour de France next month. Belgian rider Tom Boonen banned from Tour de France after positive test for cocainePARIS — Tour de France organizers banned former world champion Tom Boonen from next month’s race after the Belgian rider tested positive for cocaine for the second time in less than year. Armstrong’s Astana team appears set for Tour after solving financial woes in deal with backersBRUSSELS — Lance Armstrong’s Astana team appears ready to participate in the Tour de France after reaching an agreement with its Kazakh backers to solve financial problems that have plagued the team this year. Top sports court rules star Kazakh rider Alexandre Vinokourov ineligible for Tour de FranceLAUSANNE, Switzerland — Star cyclist Alexandre Vinokourov has been banned from next month’s Tour de France. Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara wins time trial stage to open Tour of SwitzerlandRUGGELL, Liechtenstein — Olympic time trial champion Fabian Cancellara won the opening stage of the Tour of Switzerland on Saturday. Moncoutie wins next-to-last stage of the Dauphine Libere; Valverde retains overall leadSAINT-FRANCOIS-LONGCHAMP, France — David Moncoutie of France won the next-to-last stage of the Dauphine Libere with a late breakaway on Saturday, and Alejandro Valverde of Spain retained the overall lead in the Tour de France warmup. Bicycle chain gang: French convicts get their own ‘Tour de France’ to build self-esteemPARIS — From behind prison bars, the view never changes. From behind the handlebars of racing bikes, dozens of French inmates are seeing the vineyards of Provence, the sun-drenched Mediterranean coast and the majestic spires of the Alps in their own special Tour de France. Tour de France to conduct more than 500 doping tests, cycling chief saysPARIS — More than 500 doping tests, including targeted checks, will be conducted before and during the Tour de France, says the head of the cycling union. Furlan sprints to 1st win of season in Dauphine Libere’s 2nd stage; Evans keeps overall leadDIJON, France — Angelo Furlan won the second stage of the Dauphine Libere in a sprint finish on Monday and Cadel Evans finished with the pack to keep the overall lead of the Tour de France warmup. Columbia-Highroad cyclist Greipel wins 156-mile Philadelphia International ChampionshipPHILADELPHIA — Pro cycling’s strongest team, Team Columbia-Highroad, demonstrated its dominance again Sunday when teammates Andre Greipel and Greg Henderson finished 1-2 in the 25th annual men’s Philadelphia International Championship. Cadel Evans wins Dauphine Libere prologue stage, Contador takes second placeNANCY, France — Cadel Evans of Australia won the opening prologue at the Dauphine Libere on Sunday, beating Tour de France rival Alberto Contador of Spain by eight seconds. 7-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong announces birth of son on TwitterLance Armstrong has announced the birth of his son on the social-networking site Twitter. Lance Armstrong announces birth of son on social-networking site TwitterAUSTIN, Texas — Why wait for France? Lance Armstrong can pop that bottle of champagne now. UCI clears Astana to start race Wednesday after Armstrong’s cash-hit team gives proof of fundsAIGLE, Switzerland — Cycling’s governing body cleared Astana to race Wednesday after Lance Armstrong’s team guaranteed its immediate finances. Denis Menchov expects to be contender at Tour de France after dramatic win in Giro d’ItaliaROME — Denis Menchov almost lost the Giro d’Italia within sight of the Colosseum that marked the finish after falling on the rain-slicked cobblestones of Rome with a little more than half a mile to go. Lance Armstrong concludes relatively quiet Giro d’Italia in 12th placeROME — Lance Armstrong concluded a relatively quiet Giro d’Italia in 12th place overall Sunday, then jetted home to await the birth of his fourth child. Menchov wins Giro d’Italia despite fall in at end; Konovalovas wins final stage time trialROME — A breathtaking start in Venice. A rider protest in Milan. An epic time trial along the scenic coastal area known as Cinque Terre. A grueling mountain stage in 100-degree heat. A climb up the Mount Vesuvius volcano. 2010 Giro to start in Amsterdam, with first 3 stages in the NetherlandsROME — Next year’s Giro d’Italia will start in Amsterdam and the first three stages will be contested in the Netherlands. Russia’s Denis Menchov eyes Giro title as Rome finish nears; Belgium’s Gilbert wins 20th stageANAGNI, Italy — With only a stage to go and the title all but his, Denis Menchov is not quite ready to stroll through the last leg of the Giro d’Italia. |
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PARIS — For Lance Armstrong to win an eighth Tour de France, he will not only have to beat the best rider in the world — his teammate and rival Alberto Contador — he will also need to master an innovative course with a grueling last week that includes four mountain stages.
