Tour de France: Armstrong still in the hunt

VITTEL, France (AP) — Lance Armstrong is ready to climb again, ready to leave the pack at the Tour de France after days of flat riding that belonged to sprinters.

After three days of sitting back in the main pack while others challenged for stage wins, the worst thing to happen to Armstrong was a small puncture to his back tire on Thursday’s 12th stage. Nicki Sorensen of Denmark won it, Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy kept the yellow jersey, and Armstrong’s tire was repaired within a flash.

Finally, on Friday, it’s back to serious business as Armstrong goes up against his Astana teammate Alberto Contador on a tricky trek that features one grueling mountain climb.

“Tomorrow is hard, that is a real stage,” Armstrong said Thursday. “The climb up Col du Platzerwasel is difficult, it is a long way. It is a longer day and anything can happen.”

Armstrong, who retired after his seventh straight Tour win in 2005 only to stun the cycling world by announcing he would race again this year, expects some of the Tour contenders to make their move on Friday.

“You have to watch all the rivals, even someone like (Denis) Menchov,” Armstrong said of the Giro d’Italia winner. “Some might say he is five or six minutes behind and his race is finished, but if he gains back time, he has the Alps, and then if he is close enough on the (Mont) Ventoux, he could present a problem.”

Tags: pro sports, tour de france, sports, cycling, armstrong