Tag Archives: lance-armstrong

Carlos Sastre: ‘I don’t care about Astana dispute’

Defending Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre has exclusively told CNN that he does not care what happens in the alleged dispute between rivals Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador at Astana — and is only concentrating on retaining his title. On Sunday night, seven-times Tour champion Armstrong told French TV that there was tension between himself and 2007 winner Contador, the latest in a series of comments made by the American that has raised doubts about the Astana team’s togetherness during the three-week race.

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Sanchez wins stage as Nocentini keeps yellow

Spain’s Luis-Leon Sanchez won a sprint finish among a four-man breakaway group to claim stage eight of the Tour de France over the Pyrenees on Saturday. The Caisse d’Epargne rider timed his finish to perfection to cross the line just ahead of Frenchman Sandy Casar in a time of four hours 31 minutes and 50 seconds. Sanchez, Casar and two others — Mikel Astarloza and Vladimir Efimkin — had made a decisive break on the final climb, the Col d’Agnes, allowing the quartet to battle it out at the finish of the 176.5km hike from Andorra La Vella to St Girons.

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Hushovd snatches sixth stage, Armstrong in hunt

Thor Hushovd led a mass sprint finish win the sixth stage of the Tour de France in wet conditions on Thursday, while overall leader Fabian Cancellara remained a second ahead of comeback king Lance Armstrong. The Norwegian headed off last year’s green jersey winner Oscar Freire and another Spaniard in Jose Joaquin Rojas to give his Cervelo team its first stage win in cycling’s premier event, and his sixth. The top 43 riders were all classified with a time of four hours, 21 minutes and 33 seconds, including Cancellara in 10th and seven-time champion Armstrong in 27th.

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Voeckler wins as Armstrong stays second

Thomas Voeckler won the fifth stage of the Tour de France as Lance Armstrong remained in second place in the overall standings behind Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara. It was a hugely popular victory for one of the heroes of French cycling, who had been part of a six-man breakaway group for much of the 196.5 km stage from Cap d’Agde to Perpignan. The 30-year-old Bouygues Telecom rider achieved cult status when he held the yellow jersey for ten days in the 2004 Tour de France and used his experience to good effect in the closing moments on Wednesday

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Cavendish wins again as Armstrong moves up

Mark Cavendish has won the third stage of the Tour de France to cement his reputation as the fastest man in cycling, following a devastating spell of riding by his Team Columbia colleagues. Cavendish, who is now becoming unbeatable in sprint finishes, once again showed his rivals a clean pair of heels, beating Norwegian Thor Hushovd to the line at the end of a dramatic 196km stage from Marseille to La Grand Motte.

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Tour legend Armstrong becomes a father

Seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has announced he is now the proud father of a newborn baby son called Max. The 37-year-old survivor of testicular cancer announced the news via his Twitter page, reporting that his new child weighed seven pounds and five ounces and is 20 inches long.

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Armstrong returns to action after injury

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong is back in competitive action after breaking his collarbone in a race in Spain last month. Armstrong required intricate surgery after a crash in the Vuelta Castilla y Leon on March 23 and doubts were raised he would be fit in time for his bid for an eighth victory in the Tour.

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Armstrong cleared by French doping agency

Lance Armstrong has been cleared to ride in this year’s Tour de France after the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) confirmed they would not be launching any disciplinary procedures against the seven-time champion. The AFLD opted not to take any action against the 37-year-old, following an incident in the French riviera town of Beaulieu-sur-Mer on March 17. The American returned from a training ride to find a doping official at his French home.

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Armstrong accused in doping test row

Lance Armstrong could face punishment after being accused by the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) of breaking its rules during an unannounced test last month. According to a statement issued by the AFLD, the 37-year-old American “did not meet the obligation to remain under the direct and permanent observation” of the tester, taking a 20-minute shower before giving samples of blood, urine and hair.

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