pharzo
07-24-2005, 11:10 AM
PARIS, France -- Lance Armstrong ended his storybook career in Paris on Sunday by winning a record seventh consecutive Tour de France title.
The 33-year-old American finished his last professional race with a lead of four minutes 40 seconds over Ivan Basso of Italy, with German Jan Ullrich six minutes 21 seconds behind.
Armstrong's victory was never really in doubt since the first stage of the Tour, on July 2, when he beat his main rivals by more than one minute in an individual time trial.
Armstrong spent much of Sunday's stage, which covered 144.5 kilometers from Corbeil-Essonnes to the Champs Elysees in Paris, drinking champagne, accepting the congratulations of riders and team directors and trying to avoid crashing after persistent rain.
Because of the dangerous conditions, the race clock race was officially stopped after the first of eight circuits of the Champs Elysees.
A stage winner was to be declared after the finish line is crossed.
There's a great picture here (http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/07/24/cycling.tour/index.html) of him holding up 7 fingers
I don't think he could have possibly asked for a better send off to retirement :)
The 33-year-old American finished his last professional race with a lead of four minutes 40 seconds over Ivan Basso of Italy, with German Jan Ullrich six minutes 21 seconds behind.
Armstrong's victory was never really in doubt since the first stage of the Tour, on July 2, when he beat his main rivals by more than one minute in an individual time trial.
Armstrong spent much of Sunday's stage, which covered 144.5 kilometers from Corbeil-Essonnes to the Champs Elysees in Paris, drinking champagne, accepting the congratulations of riders and team directors and trying to avoid crashing after persistent rain.
Because of the dangerous conditions, the race clock race was officially stopped after the first of eight circuits of the Champs Elysees.
A stage winner was to be declared after the finish line is crossed.
There's a great picture here (http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/07/24/cycling.tour/index.html) of him holding up 7 fingers
I don't think he could have possibly asked for a better send off to retirement :)