Nocentini defends lead as 10th stage of Tour de France begins with Armstrong in 3rd place

LIMOGES, France — Roberto Nocentini of Italy set off in the yellow jersey Tuesday as cyclists rode without earpieces to prevent easy communication with team cars in the 10th stage of the Tour de France.

The flat, 120.9-mile trek between Limoges and Issoudun favors sprinters.

Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong started the stage in third place, trailing teammate and rival Alberto Contador of Spain by two seconds. Nocentini leads Contador by six seconds.

Tour organizers said banning earpieces could inject drama into the race, forcing riders to devise tactics on their own instead of being given instructions by radio from their team cars.

Many riders, including Armstrong and Contador, have expressed their discontent at a measure they see as dangerous.

“I can’t hear anything, I don’t know anything … I feel naked,” Armstrong joked as he got off his Astana team bus and mounted his bike to go to the start line. “I think it’s a lot to do about nothing.”

Astana team director Johan Bruyneel had campaigned for the earpiece ban to be overturned, but it was upheld and is also scheduled for Friday’s tricky 13th stage — which features one big climb which could see many attacks.

Teams are still pressuring organizers to overturn Friday’s ban.