Tour benefits from the Lance factor

PARIS – Lance Armstrong missed out on an eighth Tour de France crown this year but, say rivals and admirers, his return to cycling’s showpiece event has fired the sport’s global profile into orbit.

The media’s coverage of cycling in the United States is said to be up 80 percent after Armstrong ended his four-year hiatus to compete in this year’s Tour.After three weeks of epic racing, and a tense co-habitation with Astana teammate Alberto Contador Armstrong finished third overall at 5 minutes and 24 seconds behind the Spanish ace on Sunday.But in the popularity stakes, seven-time champion Armstrong was unbeatable.Before and after each stage Armstrong’s Astana team bus was surrounded by a large crowd of cycling fans desperate for his autograph and reporters from around the globe eager to hear his comments.A-list Hollywood stars Robin Williams, Ben Stiller and Matthew McConaughey have all visited him at various stages which underlines the American’s status as cycling’s superstar.Armstrong insists he will be back for the 2010 Tour having confirmed he will ride for new cycling outfit Team Radioshack next year as he bids to win an eighth yellow jersey.But while he has fallen short of his ambition in 2009, the cancer-survivor has given the sport’s profile an immeasurable boost.Stapleton says having both Armstrong and race winner Contador racing for Astana forced Columbia’s stars, including British sprint king Mark Cavendish, to raise their game. And that has brought side benefits.Cervelo’s Thor Hushovd, who secured his second green jersey for the points competition, admitted Armstrong was a big draw for fans.While the internal rivalry between Contador and Armstrong added an extra dynamic, the real duel for the yellow jersey was between Contador and Luxembourg’s Andy Schleck, who finished second overall at 4:11.But Tour de France chief Christian Prudhomme is among those looking forward to the American’s return in 2010.- Nampa-AFP