AMERICAN Lance Armstrong admitted he is still finding his climbing legs after losing nearly three minutes to the favourites on the Tour of Italy’s second day in the mountains.
Russian Denis Menchov won an uphill sprint to claim the Giro’s fifth stage over 125km from San Martino di Castrozza to Alpe di Siusi on Wednesday as second-placed Italian Danilo Di Luca took the leader’s pink jersey.
While Armstrong’s Astana teammate Levi Leipheimer finished a handful of seconds behind the stage leaders, the seven-time Tour de France champion rode over the finish line 2min 58sec in arrears.
It was a performance that may leave some fans wondering whether Armstrong’s aims for an eighth Tour de France title will hold water in July.
But the American, who only returned to racing in January following a two and a half year absence from the sport – and has only just recovered from a broken collarbone – admitted he was happy limiting his losses.
And the 37-year-old said he would look forward to the second half of the Giro to possibly aim for his maiden stage win on the race.
– Nampa-AFP
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