The Hindu : Sport / Cycling : Armstrong survives `Hell of the North'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 08, 2004

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Sport - Cycling

Armstrong survives `Hell of the North'

WASQUEHAL (FRANCE), JULY 7. Lance Armstrong turned the ``Hell of the North'' to his advantage. But the cobblestone tracks that bear that menacing name proved disastrous for his Spanish rival Iban Mayo.

Mayo lost a whopping three minutes, 48 seconds to the five-time champion in the stage — a margin that could kill his chances of finishing on the winner's podium in Paris on July 25. But Armstrong kept his drive for a record sixth Tour victory alive. ``Ugh, that's unbelievable,'' said the 32-year-old Texan, summing up the difficult day.

Mayo went down as teams were battling fiercely, juggling for position and riding almost flat-out, to place themselves at the front of the pack before it hit the cobbles. The front was the best place to be. Those behind risked being pelted with blinding dust or caught in crashes.

As Mayo struggled back to his feet with a gaping tear in his shorts and resumed racing, Armstrong and his Postals zoomed ahead.

Mayo, stuck with a second group of riders behind, couldn't make up the lost ground. He finished 151st of the 184 riders that crossed the finish line.

Overall, after just four days of racing, Mayo trails Armstrong by four minutes and seven seconds.

Jean-Patrick Nazon of France won the stage from Waterloo in Belgium to Wasquehal in northern France, beating German Erik Zabel and Australia's Robbie McEwen in a sprint finish.

But McEwen, winner of Monday's stage, took the overall race lead and the yellow jersey that goes with it because of time bonuses earned for his sprinting. — AP

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