Seven-times Tour de
France champion Lance Armstrong turned in a strong performance on
Thursday’s mountainous Tour of Switzerland sixth stage when he finished
fifth behind solo winner Robert Gesink.
Rabobank rider Gesink leads the overall standings with Columbia’s
Rigoberto Uran in second 29 seconds behind him and Switzerland’s Steve
Morabito third at 36 seconds while Armstrong moved up to seventh 55
adrift.
“It was a hard day, the first mountainous stage I’ve done
since July,” American Armstrong told reporters. “It was a long day but
a pretty good test too.To be honest I suffered at the beginning of the
Albula and I couldn’t find a good rhythm. But overall I am pretty happy.”
Asked if he could win Sunday’s decisive time trial, Armstrong said
he had no idea.
“I’d like to say yes but in the last few years my time trials have
been disappointing.As for the Tour de France, which starts on July 3,
Armstrong was equally cautious.
“It’ll be very hard with my age and my own struggle with time
trials in the last few years. We’ll have to be smart, lucky, and play
the team card.”
