Texan strongman sets the pace

Again, Spaniards Jose-Luis Rubiera and Roberto Heras were his most precious aides, dropping Armstrong8217;s rivals one by one.

Again, Joseba Beloki was the last one to resist. But the ONCE team leader could not keep pace when the Texan stepped up on his pedals and went away. The only difference to the script of this six-hour ride was that Armstrong attacked earlier and, as a result, had a bigger lead on the rest of the bunch.

8220;It was more fine work from the team. What a team,8221; said Armstrong, who had won a stage on the Plateau-de-Beille in the 1999 Route du Sud race. But the Texan insisted the race was not over yet. Reuters