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Lance Armstrong said he will be happy with a place on the podium in Paris as he lies third overall after Saturday’s 20th stage.
Having won the last of his seven Tour de France titles in 2005, Astana’s Armstrong ended his four year hiatus to compete in this year’s race and will ride into Paris on Sunday in third behind yellow jersey holder Alberto Contador.
Luxemburg’s 24-year-old Andy Schleck is at 4:11 behind the 26-year-old Spaniard, while Armstrong, 37, is at 5:24 and says he has no complaints on his Tour return especially having been up against younger rivals.
“I can’t complain, for an old fart coming in here and getting on the podium with these young guys is not so bad,” grinned the Texan.
Armstrong finished Saturday’s 20th stage fifth at 41 seconds behind Spanish winner Juan Manuel Garate while Andy Schleck came home third at 38 seconds, with Astana’s Contador just behind in the same time.
“It was pretty aggressive up there, there was a lot of wind and teams riding at the front,” said Armstrong who said his pre-race plan was to stop fourth-placed Bradley Wiggins of Garmin and Saxo Bank’s Frank Schleck in fifth.
Wiggins began the day only 15secs behind Armstrong and could have threatened his podium place. Traditionally there is no battle for the yellow jersey and podium places on the final stage.
Both riders are now just over 30 seconds behind the Texan, but a solid ride into Paris should leave him third on the podium at the Champs Elysees.
“The game plan was kinda simple, follow Wiggins and follow Frank Schleck and I had the legs to do that,” said Armstrong who added huge numbers of fans and motor homes along the Mont Ventoux route had provided shelter for the riders.
“It wasn’t as windy up there as advertised, it feels windy here at the top, but on the way up it was less than we thought.
“All the motor homes helped the situation and I have never seen so many people on the Ventoux.
“Hell, it seems like half of America showed up and all of France.
“It was so packed and when you have so many people it blocks a lot of the wind.”
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