Armstrong’s Tour de France hopes dealt major blow in 8th stage won by Schleck

Armstrong says hopes of Tour victory ‘finished’

MORZINE, France — Lance Armstrong says his hopes of an eighth Tour de France victory are “finished” after he struggled in the Alps and was caught up in three crashes during an eighth stage won by Andy Schleck of Luxembourg on Sunday.

The Texan crossed nearly 12 minutes behind Schleck during the 117.4-mile run from Station des Rousses to the Morzine-Avoriaz ski resort.

Armstrong said after the stage that he had a “very, very bad day” and “my Tour is finished” — but said he will continue the three-week race that ends July 25 in Paris.

World champion Cadel Evans of Australia took the yellow jersey, with overnight leader Sylvain Chavanel trailing the top contenders on the tough La Ramaz climb.

Armstrong lost several minutes to his main rivals while he struggled up the steepest part of the ascent — the first of two tough climbs on the day.

The American crashed once, scraping his knee, and got caught up and delayed in two other spills. One of those also brought down Evans.

Evans is 20 seconds ahead of Schleck overall.