Tour offers Armstrong rivals glimmer of hope
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PARIS  - Lance Armstrong&#39;s increasing band of rivals have been given a glimmer of hope for victory after Tour de France organisers unveiled a slimmed-down race for 2005.
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Lance Armstrong is not necessarily messing with the minds of cycling fans or even his new sponsors. He is just not ready to publicly commit to the Tour de France.
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The route of the 2005 Tour de France was announced yesterday, and the changes look set to test the dominance of the reigning champion, Lance Armstrong.
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CALGARY -- Kananaskis Country will take on a Tour de France feel tomorrow as its perennial champion Lance Armstrong leads a swarm of cyclists through the Rockies.
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TIGNES, France  - The days when seven-times winner Lance Armstrong was sewing up the Tour de France in the prologue or the first mountain stage are over.
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Lance Armstrong will ride in this year's Tour de France and seek a seventh straight win.
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Two years after Lance Armstrong's retirement, his absence is still making almost as big an imprint as his presence did during his seven-year title run.
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Floyd Landis knows the Alps well &amp;#151; he sweated up enough steep mountain climbs to help Lance Armstrong clinch three of his seven Tour de France wins. With Armstrong retired, Landis is now a main contender for Tour victory as leader of the Phonak team. With the three-week race entering the Alps, the final stretch will soon be in sight.
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The 2005 Tour de France may give other riders a chance to test Lance Armstrong. The mountaintop finishes are less intense and the time trials shorter, possibly cutting into the strength of the six-time winner. Organizers on Thursday unveiled the 2005 Tour route, which runs from July 2-24, passes through Germany and features 21 stages over 2,222 miles.
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The 2005 Tour de France might give other riders their best chance to test Lance Armstrong, if he goes for a seventh consecutive title.
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Cancer survivor, six-time Tour de France cycling champion and Austinite Lance Armstrong is on a ride across the nation. Armstrong and other bicyclists with cancer experiences hope to inform and inspire Americans
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Michael Rasmussen put in a stellar ride Saturday in the first of two time trials in the Tour de France and maintained his grip on the yellow jersey by one minute over Cadel Evans.
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IN THE brasseries of the Etoile quarter of Paris yesterday lunchtime, the talk was of how many more years the locals would have to endure Lance Armstrongâs domination of their cherished Tour de France.
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Six-time Tour de France winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong is taking part in a cross-country cycling relay to raise awareness about cancer and the importance of cancer research.
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With his record six victories, Lance  Armstrong has proved he can win the Tour de France over any  course. Thursday organizers unveiled a 2005 route that suits  his rivals rather than the American.
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Lance Armstrongâs seven Tour de France titles seemed compelling, while Barry Bondsâs approach to Hank Aaronâs home run record has seemed mostly sour.
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Six-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and other cyclists are rolling into Washington Saturday with the hope of raising millions of dollars for cancer research.