Armstrong Closes Gap At Tour

Lance Armstrong took a big step toward a record sixth Tour de France crown on Friday by surging ahead of key rivals on the first Pyrenean climb, finishing just behind stage winner Italian Ivan Basso.

The effort vaulted Armstrong from sixth to second in the overall standings, 5 minutes and 24 seconds behind French champion Thomas Voeckler. Voeckler was among those who struggled in the mountain stage, but managed to limit the damage and hold on to his overall lead.

Voeckler had been leading Armstrong by over nine minutes before the grueling stage. He placed 41st on Friday, 3 minutes and 59 seconds behind Armstrong and Basso.

Armstrong Friday also got a vote of confidence from President Bush, who predicted that Armstrong will win the Tour de France — and added with a smile that he will win re-election, too.

Mr. Bush fed his new passion for bicycling by watching the tour on Air Force One's TV screens, rooting for fellow Texan Armstrong during a punishing stage through the Pyrenees.

Asked whether he thought Armstrong would pull off a record-breaking sixth tour win, the president flashed two thumbs-up.

"He's going to win and I'm going to win," Mr. Bush said en route to Florida and West Virginia — two critical states in his re-election campaign.

"There's no need to worry about either race any more," he said with a wave of his hands and a grin.

Jan Ullrich, Tyler Hamilton, Iban Mayo and Roberto Heras were among the pre-Tour contenders who saw their hopes of dethroning the five-time champion fade as Armstrong powered up the ascent ahead of them.

Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner, lost 2 minutes and 30 seconds to Armstrong — a major blow. Hamilton gave up 3 minutes and 27 seconds, while Heras was 2 minutes and 57 seconds behind.

"I could tell he (Armstrong) was going to strike a big blow," said French rider Richard Virenque, who was 3 minutes, 27 seconds behind. "He stunned the favorites."

Basso, widely considered a possible future Tour winner, took the first stage win of his career, a 123-mile ride from Castelsarrasin to La Mongie. The 26-year-old won the white jersey as the best young rider in 2002, when he placed 11th overall. He was 7th overall last year and says he hopes to win the showcase race in two to three years.

While Basso won, Armstrong's merciless form on the ascent to the La Mongie ski station showed that he will be hard to beat as he seeks a record sixth title.