Here is the link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2006/news/story?id=2523007
For him to say that it would not be fair to say whether he won or not is a classy move, but it is obvious he would have won easily without ullrich or basso in the field.
L'ALPE D'HUEZ, France -- Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong hopes an American can win this year's Tour de France and continue the streak he created before retiring last July, as it would be good for the sport in the U.S.
Armstrong was in the French Alps to support this year's race, which has been caught up in a doping scandal in Spain, and on Tuesday saw former teammate Floyd Landis take the leader's yellow jersey at the L'Alpe d'Huez ski resort.
"I know that there's been friction here and there between us but he's American, he's great for American cycling and I'd love to see the yellow jersey stay in the United States," Armstrong told reporters.
"I think it's very important for the success of cycling in the United States. American sports fans need their guys to be successful and see names and faces they can identity and relate to.
"Floyd is riding great. If I was betting man I'd certainly put my money on him now."
Armstrong rode to the summit of the famous L'Alpe d'Huez climb on Monday with Hollywood actor Jake Gyllenhaal. He looked fit and is in training for November's New York marathon but declined to speculate on whether he could have won this year's race.
"That would just be theorizing or guessing. I'm sitting here as the retired guy that would be the lantern rouge [last overall] in this Tour," the 34-year-old said.
"That's the reality. It wouldn't be fair to the people who win to say if I could have won.
"I'm still a fit guy but I'm not in the race and don't want to be. So let somebody else win, let somebody be the be the new champ and wear yellow. It's somebody else's race now."
Armstrong said he was in France to help defend cycling after the recent Spanish doping investigation in which nine Tour riders, including favorites Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, were implicated forcing them to withdraw from the race.
"I came here as a fan because I think the sport needs fans to say 'okay, rough start to the Tour, another black eye but I don't think it's the time to run from the sport.' "Now is the time to stand up and support cycling," he said.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2006/news/story?id=2523007
For him to say that it would not be fair to say whether he won or not is a classy move, but it is obvious he would have won easily without ullrich or basso in the field.
L'ALPE D'HUEZ, France -- Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong hopes an American can win this year's Tour de France and continue the streak he created before retiring last July, as it would be good for the sport in the U.S.
Armstrong was in the French Alps to support this year's race, which has been caught up in a doping scandal in Spain, and on Tuesday saw former teammate Floyd Landis take the leader's yellow jersey at the L'Alpe d'Huez ski resort.
"I know that there's been friction here and there between us but he's American, he's great for American cycling and I'd love to see the yellow jersey stay in the United States," Armstrong told reporters.
"I think it's very important for the success of cycling in the United States. American sports fans need their guys to be successful and see names and faces they can identity and relate to.
"Floyd is riding great. If I was betting man I'd certainly put my money on him now."
Armstrong rode to the summit of the famous L'Alpe d'Huez climb on Monday with Hollywood actor Jake Gyllenhaal. He looked fit and is in training for November's New York marathon but declined to speculate on whether he could have won this year's race.
"That would just be theorizing or guessing. I'm sitting here as the retired guy that would be the lantern rouge [last overall] in this Tour," the 34-year-old said.
"That's the reality. It wouldn't be fair to the people who win to say if I could have won.
"I'm still a fit guy but I'm not in the race and don't want to be. So let somebody else win, let somebody be the be the new champ and wear yellow. It's somebody else's race now."
Armstrong said he was in France to help defend cycling after the recent Spanish doping investigation in which nine Tour riders, including favorites Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, were implicated forcing them to withdraw from the race.
"I came here as a fan because I think the sport needs fans to say 'okay, rough start to the Tour, another black eye but I don't think it's the time to run from the sport.' "Now is the time to stand up and support cycling," he said.