Sun 24 Jul, 10:09 PM
SportingLife.com
Lance Armstrong retired from cycling on Sunday after winning a seventh Tour de France title and still at the height of his powers.
The Texan, who turns 34 in September, made a last grand entrance to Paris after three weeks in which he has been as dominant as at any time since he won his first tour six years ago.
He finished four minutes, 40 seconds ahead of the Italian Ivan Basso while Jan Ullrich was third, six minutes 21 seconds away from first place.
Armstrong described it as a "dream podium", paying tribute to both men - Ullrich, who has finished second to him on three occasions, and Basso, who is widely tipped as the man most likely to next year.
"This is the guy (Ullrich) that has challenged me and our team," said Armstrong.
"He's a special rival and a special person.
"Ivan, he's too good a friend to race against and he's perhaps the future of the Tour de France."
Because of cycling's continuing battle against doping, any winner of any race faces allegations and rumours.
And, as the most successful cyclist of the last 30 years, Armstrong has faced more than most.
However, he made a passionate defence of his spot today, telling the huge crowd on the Champs Elysees: "To the cynics and the sceptics, I'm sorry you cannot dream big, I'm sorry you cannot believe in miracles.
"You should believe in these athletes. This is a hard sporting event and only hard work wins it. Vive le Tour forever."
Armstrong has certainly worked hard over the last three weeks but over the 20th stage, the only dangers that remained to Armstrong were the French roads, made greasy by the damp conditions.
There was a warning on the approach to Paris when a crash just in front of him threatened to bring him down.
But he navigated clear of danger and the final 144.5km of an extraordinary career passed safely with Armstrong well protected by his Discovery team-mates.
The honour of winning the final stage of the 2005 Tour went to the T-Mobile rider Alexander Vinokourov, the champion of Kazakhstan and a rider known for his quixotic approach.
On this occasion his daring paid off as he surged clear of the peloton in pursuit of Brad McGee before powering past the Australian on the final circuit.
But all of the attention was on Armstrong.
He is reported to be in better condition now than he was when he completed his inspiring comeback from testicular cancer by winning the 1999 Tour.
So it is regrettable he is retiring now when an eighth Tour and some of cycling's other great honours would seem to be within his reach.
However, he has plenty to keep him busy with three children, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and his continued involvement in the Discovery team he co-owns.
While the Texan's future is mapped out for him, what happens to cycling now remains unclear.
Armstrong stimulated unprecedented interest in the sport across the world, particularly in the United States where he enjoys a profile higher than the biggest stars of basketball or baseball.
Whether cycling can keep the attention of the world's biggest market place in his absence is unknown.
For his rivals, however, his exit is a chance to take some of the limelight - an attitude summed up by McGee.
"I'm proud to say I rode in the Armstrong era," he said.
"But I'm not saying I'm disappointed he's leaving because it opens up doors."
Those doors could open to a team-mate of Armstrong's, the Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovych who won the white jersey for the best young rider.
