Lance Armstrong completed what he considered his first real test for the upcoming Tour de France by finishing third in the 47km time trial of the Dauphine Libere’s third stage in France on Wednesday.
The race lead went to Gerolsteiner’s Levi Leipheimer, who took over from Frenchman Samuel Dumoulin of the AG2R team but lost out on winning the race against the clock by just one second to Colombia’s Santiago Botero.
The 33-year-old Armstrong finished behind the former world time-trial champion from Medellin in what was considered a pre-Tour de France battle between some of the possible contenders for the yellow jersey.
Floyd Landis — Botero’s teammate at Phonak — took fourth place ahead of Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov, of T-Mobile.
It meant three Americans finished in the top five behind South American winner Botero, and two of those — Leipheimer and Landis — were former members of Armstrong’s former team, US Postal.
The time-trial course featured only one climb, a 3,5km ascent at an average of 6%, although 155 riders had to contend with a strong headwind for the rest of the way.
Armstrong admitted it had been a hard slog, and that was before he knew he had finished well behind Botero.
”I started fast and hard. It was difficult. There was a climb, then a downhill with a headwind too, so it was very difficult to pedal in the downhill sections,” said Armstrong.
”It was 100% effort all the way, but that’s okay. Santiago Botero is a specialist. He rides good.”
Botero, the 2002 world champion who is only beginning to regain his form after a barren couple of years at the T-Mobile team, stunned the field by posting a time of one hour and six seconds.
Armstrong then came home with a deficit of 26 seconds to the 32-year-old, while Leipheimer finished moments later.
Armstrong appears to be on form for his upcoming challenge on the Tour de France on July 2-24, and said he is not too disappointed with his efforts, which for the past six years have been handy in him winning the yellow jersey.
”I’m not overwhelmingly pleased but not too disappointed. I’m on schedule [for the Tour],” he added.
”I’m better than I was at the Tour of Georgia. I’m more comfortable on the bike. My position is better and my cadence is better.
”Today wasn’t perfect but the overall sensation is good.”
Still unaware of Botero’s time, Armstrong added: ”I was six seconds behind Botero at the second checkpoint, but if I was 30 seconds behind him at the finish line, then that would be a little disappointing.”
Botero’s convincing finish might prove worrying to Armstrong on paper, although the Colombian said his yellow jersey aims this July are minimal.
”My main objective for the Tour is to win stages, and the time trial of course,” said the Colombian.
”I can understand people might have suspicions about me. I’m in the public eye and people are entitled to have their opinions, even suppositions.
”But all I can do is show what I can do on the bike. It’s been a difficult two years for me, but thanks to patience and support from my family and friends I feel back on top of things.”
Leipheimer, who finished third on the Tour of Spain a few years ago, admitted it will be a hard slog to the finish on Sunday, beginning with the 182km fourth stage, which climbs to the summit of Mont Ventoux.
”I’m not putting any pressure on myself, it’s day by day for me,” said Leipheimer, who is nonetheless in the running for a shot at the Tour de France podium. — Sapa-AFP