Lance Armstrong faces 1st mountain test at Tour de France; can 37-year-old Texan still climb?

Armstrong still 2nd at Tour, but mountains loom

PERPIGNAN, France — In less than 48 hours, Lance Armstrong will have answered the last unresolved question about his capacity to win an eighth Tour de France: Can he still climb?

The 37-year-old Texan is second overall, but about to face his toughest test in this year’s Tour as the grueling three-week race arrives in the Pyrenees mountains.

“That’s my question mark, that’s your question mark, that’s everybody’s question mark,” Armstrong said. “But we don’t have to wait long until we’ll find out, that’s the good thing.”

Armstrong is again eliciting fear among his rivals after an astute move that earned valuable time over his rival and teammate Alberto Contador, plus an impressive show at the team time trial.

He couldn’t be in a better position before heading into the mountains. But a lurch Friday in Arcalis, Andorra — the finish of the first of three Pyrenean stages — would bring him back down to earth.

Armstrong didn’t take any risks during Wednesday’s fifth stage with the mountains looming. Thomas Voeckler of France won the 122-mile ride along a windy Mediterranean Sea from Le Cap d’Agde to Perpignan after a long breakaway.

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland retained the overall lead, with Armstrong a fraction of a second behind. Armstrong spent the day in front of the main peloton with his Astana teammates, trying to avoid any trouble on roads opened to strong winds.

Usually, Armstrong would dominate rivals on the race’s first hilltop finish, but this time he is preaching caution, knowing Friday’s stage will be crucial. At the top of the 7,350 foot summit, the seven-time champion will have to answer any doubts about his ability to scale punishing ascents.

“I think I’ll be good,” he said.

With defending champion Carlos Sastre 2:44 back, two-time runner-up Cadel Evans lagging 2:59 behind and Denis Menchov 3:52 back, the Tour could come down to Armstrong and Contador. The Spaniard is third overall, 19 seconds behind Armstrong. Former Tour runner-up Andreas Kloeden is fourth, 23 seconds back, and Levi Leipheimer of the United States is fifth, 31 seconds behind.

Contador, the 2007 Tour winner, will ride with the support of home fans in the coming days. The stage Thursday is a 112-mile trek in Spain between Gerona and Barcelona, scheduled a day before the big rendezvous in Arcalis.

To Contador’s advantage, he’s the best climber in the world and his legs are 11 years younger than Armstrong’s. He’s rejoicing that the race is finally reaching his usual playground.

“I can’t wait to get to the mountains because it’s my territory. The sensations are good, but I always like to confirm them,” he said.

Because he’s behind Armstrong, Contador probably won’t get carte blanche from Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel and won’t be allowed to attack the Texan if he responds well in the climbs.

Armstrong, who underwent a doping test Wednesday, seems perfectly aware that Contador will be physically stronger than him in the mountains. But the seasoned veteran believes his mental resources will prevail.

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will,” Armstrong said on his Tweeter account, quoting Mahatma Gandhi.

Five years to the day after he put on the yellow jersey, Voeckler claimed his first stage victory at the Tour. He who wore the coveted leader’s jersey for nine days in 2004.

The Frenchman made his move 3.1 miles from the finish, bursting ahead to escape a small breakaway. He arrived at the line with tears in his eyes.

“I dedicate this victory to myself, my son and my wife, who actually didn’t see me win as she was returning home in a plane,” the 30-year-old said.

Voeckler clocked 4 hours, 29 minutes, 35 seconds — seven seconds faster than the peloton that was barreling down on him. Mikhail Ignatiev of Russia was second, and Britain’s Mark Cavendish was third, winning the sprint in the trailing peloton.

Voeckler is 138th overall, 6:48 behind Cancellara, and has almost no chance of winning.

“I don’t think he is a fluke,” Cancellara said. “It has been difficult for him because when he wore the jersey in 2004, a lot of people thought he was the new Bernard Hinault.”

A five-time Tour winner, Hinault is the last Frenchman to win in 1985.

“I’m not one of the best riders in the world,” Voeckler said. “I don’t have the possibility to win a big Tour. But I’m still ambitious and I’m happy with my career so far.”

Voeckler, who broke his collarbone earlier this season, and five other riders — Ignatiev, Anthony Geslin, Yauheni Hutarovich, Marcin Sapa and Albert Timmer — were involved in the breakaway after 7½ miles.

Less than four miles from the finish, the leading group was reduced to four riders following an attack from Ignatiev, a track specialist making his Tour debut. Voeckler then bolted out from a roundabout and went all out to the line.

Rising star Robert Gesink of the Netherlands withdrew after breaking his wrist in a crash.