Thursday, July 22, 2004
Scotsman.com Sport - Latest News - Formula One Hails SchumacherFormula One Hails Schumacher
From Alastair Moffitt, PA Sport Motor Racing Correspondent, Hockenheim
Michael Schumacher has been lavished with praise by some of Formula One’s leading figures but the world champion believes he has found a bigger star.
Schumacher has rewritten Formula One history in his 14 seasons at the top, claiming more titles, more wins and more points – to name just a few – than any other driver in history.
Those achievements were recognised by Formula One’s big names in the run up to the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, with the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone leading the praise.
He said: “Michael is a superstar. That is exactly what we wanted, as every sport needs a superstar and he is ours.
“Everybody tries to beat him and that is great publicity for Formula One.
“He is lucky to drive for a team that supports him the way Ferrari does but it was Michael who motivated them after their initial problems, helped improve them and get to where they are now.
“It is hard to know whether another driver in the same position would have the same effect – I guess we won’t know until another champion comes along in a similar environment.”
BAR team boss David Richards, who has worked with world champions in rallying and Formula One, also saluted Schumacher.
He added: “Michael Schumacher is the perfect racing driver. He deserves admiration.
“When people say that at the moment he is a threat to Formula One I would reply he is not the problem, it’s up to the other drivers to beat him.
“In terms of talent, willingness to work, principles and cooperation with the team he really is a complete driver.”
But Schumacher is uncomfortable with such praise and prefers not to think of himself as a hero to Formula One fans.
Instead he suggests other sportsmen are performing heroics more worthy of such plaudits, singling out cyclist Lance Armstrong who is on course to win a sixth Tour de France.
Schumacher said: “I don’t really feel you should compare the two of us in any way. What he is doing is so special, sitting on a bike for so many days.
“I know what it means to do what I am doing but to do what he is doing is really, really massive and impressive.
“To do what we do is different. I don’t think you can compare the two.”
Schumacher today gets his preparations for the German Grand Prix under way with practice.
He is closing in on a sixth consecutive constructors’ title with Ferrari – to mirror Armstrong’s current progress – but admits he needs to overcome bad luck at Hockenheim if he is to achieve his goal on Sunday.
Schumacher has an indifferent record at his home track, with two wins during his grand prix career, but he hopes to put that behind him this weekend.
“My results don’t look too great for whatever reason,” Schumacher said. “I did something good in Great Britain where I didn’t have the best record and seemed to be able to turn that around. I hope to be able to do the same thing here.”
From Alastair Moffitt, PA Sport Motor Racing Correspondent, Hockenheim
Michael Schumacher has been lavished with praise by some of Formula One’s leading figures but the world champion believes he has found a bigger star.
Schumacher has rewritten Formula One history in his 14 seasons at the top, claiming more titles, more wins and more points – to name just a few – than any other driver in history.
Those achievements were recognised by Formula One’s big names in the run up to the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, with the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone leading the praise.
He said: “Michael is a superstar. That is exactly what we wanted, as every sport needs a superstar and he is ours.
“Everybody tries to beat him and that is great publicity for Formula One.
“He is lucky to drive for a team that supports him the way Ferrari does but it was Michael who motivated them after their initial problems, helped improve them and get to where they are now.
“It is hard to know whether another driver in the same position would have the same effect – I guess we won’t know until another champion comes along in a similar environment.”
BAR team boss David Richards, who has worked with world champions in rallying and Formula One, also saluted Schumacher.
He added: “Michael Schumacher is the perfect racing driver. He deserves admiration.
“When people say that at the moment he is a threat to Formula One I would reply he is not the problem, it’s up to the other drivers to beat him.
“In terms of talent, willingness to work, principles and cooperation with the team he really is a complete driver.”
But Schumacher is uncomfortable with such praise and prefers not to think of himself as a hero to Formula One fans.
Instead he suggests other sportsmen are performing heroics more worthy of such plaudits, singling out cyclist Lance Armstrong who is on course to win a sixth Tour de France.
Schumacher said: “I don’t really feel you should compare the two of us in any way. What he is doing is so special, sitting on a bike for so many days.
“I know what it means to do what I am doing but to do what he is doing is really, really massive and impressive.
“To do what we do is different. I don’t think you can compare the two.”
Schumacher today gets his preparations for the German Grand Prix under way with practice.
He is closing in on a sixth consecutive constructors’ title with Ferrari – to mirror Armstrong’s current progress – but admits he needs to overcome bad luck at Hockenheim if he is to achieve his goal on Sunday.
Schumacher has an indifferent record at his home track, with two wins during his grand prix career, but he hopes to put that behind him this weekend.
“My results don’t look too great for whatever reason,” Schumacher said. “I did something good in Great Britain where I didn’t have the best record and seemed to be able to turn that around. I hope to be able to do the same thing here.”
Scotsman.com Sport - Latest News - Formula One Hails SchumacherFormula One Hails Schumacher
From Alastair Moffitt, PA Sport Motor Racing Correspondent, Hockenheim
Michael Schumacher has been lavished with praise by some of Formula One’s leading figures but the world champion believes he has found a bigger star.
Schumacher has rewritten Formula One history in his 14 seasons at the top, claiming more titles, more wins and more points – to name just a few – than any other driver in history.
Those achievements were recognised by Formula One’s big names in the run up to the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, with the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone leading the praise.
He said: “Michael is a superstar. That is exactly what we wanted, as every sport needs a superstar and he is ours.
“Everybody tries to beat him and that is great publicity for Formula One.
“He is lucky to drive for a team that supports him the way Ferrari does but it was Michael who motivated them after their initial problems, helped improve them and get to where they are now.
“It is hard to know whether another driver in the same position would have the same effect – I guess we won’t know until another champion comes along in a similar environment.”
BAR team boss David Richards, who has worked with world champions in rallying and Formula One, also saluted Schumacher.
He added: “Michael Schumacher is the perfect racing driver. He deserves admiration.
“When people say that at the moment he is a threat to Formula One I would reply he is not the problem, it’s up to the other drivers to beat him.
“In terms of talent, willingness to work, principles and cooperation with the team he really is a complete driver.”
But Schumacher is uncomfortable with such praise and prefers not to think of himself as a hero to Formula One fans.
Instead he suggests other sportsmen are performing heroics more worthy of such plaudits, singling out cyclist Lance Armstrong who is on course to win a sixth Tour de France.
Schumacher said: “I don’t really feel you should compare the two of us in any way. What he is doing is so special, sitting on a bike for so many days.
“I know what it means to do what I am doing but to do what he is doing is really, really massive and impressive.
“To do what we do is different. I don’t think you can compare the two.”
Schumacher today gets his preparations for the German Grand Prix under way with practice.
He is closing in on a sixth consecutive constructors’ title with Ferrari – to mirror Armstrong’s current progress – but admits he needs to overcome bad luck at Hockenheim if he is to achieve his goal on Sunday.
Schumacher has an indifferent record at his home track, with two wins during his grand prix career, but he hopes to put that behind him this weekend.
“My results don’t look too great for whatever reason,” Schumacher said. “I did something good in Great Britain where I didn’t have the best record and seemed to be able to turn that around. I hope to be able to do the same thing here.”
From Alastair Moffitt, PA Sport Motor Racing Correspondent, Hockenheim
Michael Schumacher has been lavished with praise by some of Formula One’s leading figures but the world champion believes he has found a bigger star.
Schumacher has rewritten Formula One history in his 14 seasons at the top, claiming more titles, more wins and more points – to name just a few – than any other driver in history.
Those achievements were recognised by Formula One’s big names in the run up to the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, with the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone leading the praise.
He said: “Michael is a superstar. That is exactly what we wanted, as every sport needs a superstar and he is ours.
“Everybody tries to beat him and that is great publicity for Formula One.
“He is lucky to drive for a team that supports him the way Ferrari does but it was Michael who motivated them after their initial problems, helped improve them and get to where they are now.
“It is hard to know whether another driver in the same position would have the same effect – I guess we won’t know until another champion comes along in a similar environment.”
BAR team boss David Richards, who has worked with world champions in rallying and Formula One, also saluted Schumacher.
He added: “Michael Schumacher is the perfect racing driver. He deserves admiration.
“When people say that at the moment he is a threat to Formula One I would reply he is not the problem, it’s up to the other drivers to beat him.
“In terms of talent, willingness to work, principles and cooperation with the team he really is a complete driver.”
But Schumacher is uncomfortable with such praise and prefers not to think of himself as a hero to Formula One fans.
Instead he suggests other sportsmen are performing heroics more worthy of such plaudits, singling out cyclist Lance Armstrong who is on course to win a sixth Tour de France.
Schumacher said: “I don’t really feel you should compare the two of us in any way. What he is doing is so special, sitting on a bike for so many days.
“I know what it means to do what I am doing but to do what he is doing is really, really massive and impressive.
“To do what we do is different. I don’t think you can compare the two.”
Schumacher today gets his preparations for the German Grand Prix under way with practice.
He is closing in on a sixth consecutive constructors’ title with Ferrari – to mirror Armstrong’s current progress – but admits he needs to overcome bad luck at Hockenheim if he is to achieve his goal on Sunday.
Schumacher has an indifferent record at his home track, with two wins during his grand prix career, but he hopes to put that behind him this weekend.
“My results don’t look too great for whatever reason,” Schumacher said. “I did something good in Great Britain where I didn’t have the best record and seemed to be able to turn that around. I hope to be able to do the same thing here.”
Scotsman.com Sport - Latest News - Formula One Hails SchumacherFormula One Hails Schumacher
From Alastair Moffitt, PA Sport Motor Racing Correspondent, Hockenheim
Michael Schumacher has been lavished with praise by some of Formula One’s leading figures but the world champion believes he has found a bigger star.
Schumacher has rewritten Formula One history in his 14 seasons at the top, claiming more titles, more wins and more points – to name just a few – than any other driver in history.
Those achievements were recognised by Formula One’s big names in the run up to the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, with the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone leading the praise.
He said: “Michael is a superstar. That is exactly what we wanted, as every sport needs a superstar and he is ours.
“Everybody tries to beat him and that is great publicity for Formula One.
“He is lucky to drive for a team that supports him the way Ferrari does but it was Michael who motivated them after their initial problems, helped improve them and get to where they are now.
“It is hard to know whether another driver in the same position would have the same effect – I guess we won’t know until another champion comes along in a similar environment.”
BAR team boss David Richards, who has worked with world champions in rallying and Formula One, also saluted Schumacher.
He added: “Michael Schumacher is the perfect racing driver. He deserves admiration.
“When people say that at the moment he is a threat to Formula One I would reply he is not the problem, it’s up to the other drivers to beat him.
“In terms of talent, willingness to work, principles and cooperation with the team he really is a complete driver.”
But Schumacher is uncomfortable with such praise and prefers not to think of himself as a hero to Formula One fans.
Instead he suggests other sportsmen are performing heroics more worthy of such plaudits, singling out cyclist Lance Armstrong who is on course to win a sixth Tour de France.
Schumacher said: “I don’t really feel you should compare the two of us in any way. What he is doing is so special, sitting on a bike for so many days.
“I know what it means to do what I am doing but to do what he is doing is really, really massive and impressive.
“To do what we do is different. I don’t think you can compare the two.”
Schumacher today gets his preparations for the German Grand Prix under way with practice.
He is closing in on a sixth consecutive constructors’ title with Ferrari – to mirror Armstrong’s current progress – but admits he needs to overcome bad luck at Hockenheim if he is to achieve his goal on Sunday.
Schumacher has an indifferent record at his home track, with two wins during his grand prix career, but he hopes to put that behind him this weekend.
“My results don’t look too great for whatever reason,” Schumacher said. “I did something good in Great Britain where I didn’t have the best record and seemed to be able to turn that around. I hope to be able to do the same thing here.”
From Alastair Moffitt, PA Sport Motor Racing Correspondent, Hockenheim
Michael Schumacher has been lavished with praise by some of Formula One’s leading figures but the world champion believes he has found a bigger star.
Schumacher has rewritten Formula One history in his 14 seasons at the top, claiming more titles, more wins and more points – to name just a few – than any other driver in history.
Those achievements were recognised by Formula One’s big names in the run up to the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, with the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone leading the praise.
He said: “Michael is a superstar. That is exactly what we wanted, as every sport needs a superstar and he is ours.
“Everybody tries to beat him and that is great publicity for Formula One.
“He is lucky to drive for a team that supports him the way Ferrari does but it was Michael who motivated them after their initial problems, helped improve them and get to where they are now.
“It is hard to know whether another driver in the same position would have the same effect – I guess we won’t know until another champion comes along in a similar environment.”
BAR team boss David Richards, who has worked with world champions in rallying and Formula One, also saluted Schumacher.
He added: “Michael Schumacher is the perfect racing driver. He deserves admiration.
“When people say that at the moment he is a threat to Formula One I would reply he is not the problem, it’s up to the other drivers to beat him.
“In terms of talent, willingness to work, principles and cooperation with the team he really is a complete driver.”
But Schumacher is uncomfortable with such praise and prefers not to think of himself as a hero to Formula One fans.
Instead he suggests other sportsmen are performing heroics more worthy of such plaudits, singling out cyclist Lance Armstrong who is on course to win a sixth Tour de France.
Schumacher said: “I don’t really feel you should compare the two of us in any way. What he is doing is so special, sitting on a bike for so many days.
“I know what it means to do what I am doing but to do what he is doing is really, really massive and impressive.
“To do what we do is different. I don’t think you can compare the two.”
Schumacher today gets his preparations for the German Grand Prix under way with practice.
He is closing in on a sixth consecutive constructors’ title with Ferrari – to mirror Armstrong’s current progress – but admits he needs to overcome bad luck at Hockenheim if he is to achieve his goal on Sunday.
Schumacher has an indifferent record at his home track, with two wins during his grand prix career, but he hopes to put that behind him this weekend.
“My results don’t look too great for whatever reason,” Schumacher said. “I did something good in Great Britain where I didn’t have the best record and seemed to be able to turn that around. I hope to be able to do the same thing here.”
USATODAY.com - Colorado town bets big on road to gambling richesColorado town bets big on road to gambling riches
By Patrick O'Driscoll, USA TODAY
CENTRAL CITY, Colo. — Nearly a century and a half after prospectors first struck gold here, their descendants are digging for a new bonanza.
But the potential mother lode this time isn't a mine. It's a four-lane highway that residents of Central City hope will be the divining rod that leads gamblers to this dusty casino town and not to the rival wagering halls in nearby Black Hawk.
Crews have moved more than 14 million tons of dirt and rock for an 8½-mile road to bring more tourist traffic to Central City, a historic mining village whose Main Street gambling enterprises are poor neighbors to those in the more prosperous Black Hawk township.
At stake is hundreds of millions more dollars in gambling revenue for whichever town is the quickest, most convenient drive out of Denver, 40 miles east of here.
Right now, only one paved road reaches Central City: the narrow highway known as Colorado 119, a white-knuckle route of hairpin turns, rockslides and sharp embankments over icy Clear Creek. But the biggest hazard along the route, at least by Central City's reckoning, is Black Hawk. It's 1 mile closer for road-weary gamblers.
Black Hawk's 21 casinos, some of them glitzy imitations of Las Vegas betting palaces, brought in $516.3 million last fiscal year. Central City's five casinos, mostly folksy storefronts, made less than one-tenth of that — $49.7 million.
So Central City is building a $38.3 million bypass out its own back door and over the mountain to Interstate 70, a major expressway to the big city.
With four lanes and turnpike speeds, the route will shave about 20 minutes or more off the trip from Denver. Town boosters are betting that thousands of players who drive the "Central City Parkway" will stop in Central City first.
"It is a gamble," City Manager Lynnette Hailey said. "But at least now we'll have the opportunity to capture (tourists) before they go down the hill."
"We know what we're getting for this road. We're getting business," adds Joe Behm, head of Central City's business improvement district. He's also an executive at Fortune Valley Casino.
Critics suggest it will be a highway to financial hell. Business property taxes in the town will double or triple to pay off construction bonds. A gambling industry consultant, California-based Gaming & Resort Development Inc., predicts the new parkway will benefit Black Hawk far more because its casinos are bigger and have more convenient parking.
"Any developer who sees the hundreds, maybe thousands of cars driving through every day ... is certainly going to see opportunity," says Buddy Schmalz, mayor of Central City and owner of a combination brew pub and gambling hall.
Casino gambling was supposed to revive Central City, population 515, a sleepy cluster of quaint Victorians and old storefronts where the 19th-century proprietors of gold mines once lived in splendor. In years past, tourist shops and the elegant opera house were open only in summer. Water lines, sewers and other infrastructure were crumbling.
Voter approval in 1990 of limited-stakes casinos, with maximum $5 bets on slots and card games, brought a latter-day gold rush. Vacant stores were converted to slot parlors and saloons. Land prices soon soared. But Central City, much of it a National Historic District, lacked elbow room to grow. Strict limits by the City Council on where casinos could build choked development further.
After the initial rush, developers zeroed in on Black Hawk, population 118. Once a mill town and home to the workers who processed Central City's ore, it had few historic landmarks to protect — and more room for the big slot-machine emporiums that dominate today.
As Black Hawk boomed, most of Central City's casinos closed.
"The money once flowed uphill to Central City, where the fine houses and the owners were," says Tom Noel, a history professor at the University of Colorado-Denver. "It's ironic. The money is flowing downhill now."
When Central City proposed its highway in the mid-1990s, the rivalry flared. Black Hawk backed another proposal for a state-funded, $150 million widening of Highway 119. It included a tunnel that would link to I-70 one mile closer to Denver than Central City's off-ramp.
Soon it was an open feud. In 2001, the towns even sued each other. Central City and several businesses claimed Black Hawk was trying to kill off their economy by detouring visitors with street-construction roadblocks and scheming to torpedo annexation of land for the parkway. Black Hawk countered that Central City officials lied to get the district attorney to convene a grand jury investigation of the road dispute.
Some here hope the road brings Central City revenge for Black Hawk's good fortune at its expense. But officials in both towns try to downplay the friction.
Schmalz notes that Central City has dropped out of the lawsuit since electing a new City Council.
"We're trying to limit this us-and-them fashion," he says. "There's always been some competition, but it's not like we're slitting each other's throats with knives."
But no one knows for sure how many gamblers will use the new road and try their luck in Central City.
For Karen Beaugh of Kersey, Colo., whatever is closest and quickest is best. Here on a recent day to play the slots with relatives, Beaugh lamented the drive up Highway 119 as "horrible — bumper-to-bumper, curvy, dangerous, and watch out for the rocks."
Given a new expressway to the casinos, "I'll stop at the first one," Beaugh says. "They're all alike. They all take your money."
By Patrick O'Driscoll, USA TODAY
CENTRAL CITY, Colo. — Nearly a century and a half after prospectors first struck gold here, their descendants are digging for a new bonanza.
But the potential mother lode this time isn't a mine. It's a four-lane highway that residents of Central City hope will be the divining rod that leads gamblers to this dusty casino town and not to the rival wagering halls in nearby Black Hawk.
Crews have moved more than 14 million tons of dirt and rock for an 8½-mile road to bring more tourist traffic to Central City, a historic mining village whose Main Street gambling enterprises are poor neighbors to those in the more prosperous Black Hawk township.
At stake is hundreds of millions more dollars in gambling revenue for whichever town is the quickest, most convenient drive out of Denver, 40 miles east of here.
Right now, only one paved road reaches Central City: the narrow highway known as Colorado 119, a white-knuckle route of hairpin turns, rockslides and sharp embankments over icy Clear Creek. But the biggest hazard along the route, at least by Central City's reckoning, is Black Hawk. It's 1 mile closer for road-weary gamblers.
Black Hawk's 21 casinos, some of them glitzy imitations of Las Vegas betting palaces, brought in $516.3 million last fiscal year. Central City's five casinos, mostly folksy storefronts, made less than one-tenth of that — $49.7 million.
So Central City is building a $38.3 million bypass out its own back door and over the mountain to Interstate 70, a major expressway to the big city.
With four lanes and turnpike speeds, the route will shave about 20 minutes or more off the trip from Denver. Town boosters are betting that thousands of players who drive the "Central City Parkway" will stop in Central City first.
"It is a gamble," City Manager Lynnette Hailey said. "But at least now we'll have the opportunity to capture (tourists) before they go down the hill."
"We know what we're getting for this road. We're getting business," adds Joe Behm, head of Central City's business improvement district. He's also an executive at Fortune Valley Casino.
Critics suggest it will be a highway to financial hell. Business property taxes in the town will double or triple to pay off construction bonds. A gambling industry consultant, California-based Gaming & Resort Development Inc., predicts the new parkway will benefit Black Hawk far more because its casinos are bigger and have more convenient parking.
"Any developer who sees the hundreds, maybe thousands of cars driving through every day ... is certainly going to see opportunity," says Buddy Schmalz, mayor of Central City and owner of a combination brew pub and gambling hall.
Casino gambling was supposed to revive Central City, population 515, a sleepy cluster of quaint Victorians and old storefronts where the 19th-century proprietors of gold mines once lived in splendor. In years past, tourist shops and the elegant opera house were open only in summer. Water lines, sewers and other infrastructure were crumbling.
Voter approval in 1990 of limited-stakes casinos, with maximum $5 bets on slots and card games, brought a latter-day gold rush. Vacant stores were converted to slot parlors and saloons. Land prices soon soared. But Central City, much of it a National Historic District, lacked elbow room to grow. Strict limits by the City Council on where casinos could build choked development further.
After the initial rush, developers zeroed in on Black Hawk, population 118. Once a mill town and home to the workers who processed Central City's ore, it had few historic landmarks to protect — and more room for the big slot-machine emporiums that dominate today.
As Black Hawk boomed, most of Central City's casinos closed.
"The money once flowed uphill to Central City, where the fine houses and the owners were," says Tom Noel, a history professor at the University of Colorado-Denver. "It's ironic. The money is flowing downhill now."
When Central City proposed its highway in the mid-1990s, the rivalry flared. Black Hawk backed another proposal for a state-funded, $150 million widening of Highway 119. It included a tunnel that would link to I-70 one mile closer to Denver than Central City's off-ramp.
Soon it was an open feud. In 2001, the towns even sued each other. Central City and several businesses claimed Black Hawk was trying to kill off their economy by detouring visitors with street-construction roadblocks and scheming to torpedo annexation of land for the parkway. Black Hawk countered that Central City officials lied to get the district attorney to convene a grand jury investigation of the road dispute.
Some here hope the road brings Central City revenge for Black Hawk's good fortune at its expense. But officials in both towns try to downplay the friction.
Schmalz notes that Central City has dropped out of the lawsuit since electing a new City Council.
"We're trying to limit this us-and-them fashion," he says. "There's always been some competition, but it's not like we're slitting each other's throats with knives."
But no one knows for sure how many gamblers will use the new road and try their luck in Central City.
For Karen Beaugh of Kersey, Colo., whatever is closest and quickest is best. Here on a recent day to play the slots with relatives, Beaugh lamented the drive up Highway 119 as "horrible — bumper-to-bumper, curvy, dangerous, and watch out for the rocks."
Given a new expressway to the casinos, "I'll stop at the first one," Beaugh says. "They're all alike. They all take your money."
Scotsman.com Sport - Top Stories - Armstrong unstoppable in Tour de FranceArmstrong unstoppable in Tour de France
JEAN LAFOND IN LE GRAND BORNAND
A RUTHLESS Lance Armstrong refused to allow his rivals a consolation stage victory as he came from behind to outsprint German Andreas Kloeden in the last few metres of the 204.5 km 17th stage of the Tour de France yesterday.
Armstrong’s fourth win in the five mountain stages of this year’s Tour - he finished second in the other one - underlined his dominance over his closest rivals as he seeks an unprecedented sixth successive Tour victory.
Germany’s Jan Ullrich finished the stage third while Italian Ivan Basso, who beat Armstrong, pictured right, on the 12th stage, finished fourth and remains second overall, four minutes and nine seconds behind Armstrong with three days to go.
The US Postal team leader, impressive in his time-trial at l’Alpe d’Huez on Wednesday, could have been expected to let his rivals grab a consolation victory in the race’s last mountain stage.
However, he refused to allow them the satisfaction and rode down Kloeden in the final metres to seal the 20th individual stage victory of his career, adding to two team time trial victories.
"Am I the new Cannibal? The answer is no," Armstrong said in reference to the nickname given to five-times Tour winner Eddy Merckx, who is regarded as the greatest cyclist in history.
The Belgian is about to be beaten by Armstrong in terms of Tours won, but he still leads comfortably in stage wins, with 34 victories.
Armstrong said another five-times Tour champion, Bernard Hinault, had congratulated him for the lack of generosity shown to his rivals.
"When I went to the podium, Hinault met me at the top of the steps and said: ‘Perfect. No gifts’," Armstrong said.
Frenchman Hinault, another merciless boss of the bunch, won 28 stages on the Tour.
"I’ve given gifts in the Tour before and I’ve never been paid back. The Tour is too special to me. It means more than any other race," Armstrong said. In 2000, Armstrong let Italian Marco Pantani win a stage at Mont Ventoux and later regretted it as he has yet to triumph on the most infamous climb in cycling. Only one rider could have made the 32-year-old change his mind about winning the stage, his team-mate and friend Floyd Landis.
Landis led the top four riders in this Tour up the last mountain and was hoping to be allowed to win the stage.
"He was the man of the day. I hoped he could ride a fast descent and win the stage. But it did not happen," Armstrong said. "He seems to be getting better and better everyday. Today was his best day ever, that’s why I really wanted him to win the stage."
The last rider to have won three stages in the Alps in the same Tour was Italy’s Gino Bartali in 1948. The only other rider left with a chance to shine yesterday was France’s Richard Virenque, who took advantage of the five climbs to secure a record seventh King of the Mountains jersey.
The last climb, the Croix de Fry, looked like a lap of honour for the 2004 Tour, with the top-four riders overall - Armstrong, Basso, Kloeden and Ullrich - in front, with Landis opening the way for them.
Armstrong obviously wanted Landis to win but they were taken off guard when Kloeden surged in the last 600 metres but Armstrong refused to allow the German the victory and mercilessly rode him down in the final few metres.
Virenque, who won the tentth stage to St Flour, collected more than 50 points in yesterday’s climbs and can not be beaten for the best climber’s classification.
With seven polka-dot jerseys, the Quick Step team leader has now eclipsed Spaniard Federico Bahamontes, who won the Tour in 1959, and Belgian Lucien van Impe, the Tour champion in 1976.
"It was important to score points today and I went for them with my guts," said Virenque. "Now I left my mark on the Tour de France. I don’t know what I’ll do next year but I’ve enjoyed this Tour."
Australia’s Robbie McEwen survived the last mountain stage to remain favourite to win the prestigious points competition and take the special green jersey. McEwen finished 109th in Le Grand Bornand more than 35 minutes behind Armstrong but with none of his rivals scoring points he kept the green jersey for another day.
"On paper it looked as if it would be a really hard day but it turned out fine," he said.
"I got over the first climb with the main field and then we formed a gruppetto on the Col de la Madeleine and rode steady all the way to finish."
McEwen has accumulated a total of 225 points so far in the Tour, 12 more than second-placed Thor Hushovd of Norway who has 213, while Germany’s Erik Zabel is third with 212 points.
To win the competition the Brisbane-born Australian will have to fight out every sprint to defend his lead and admitted the green jersey will probably be decided on Sunday’s last stage to Paris, perhaps in the final sprint on the Champs Elysees.
"I’m confident because I feel pretty good and I think I’m still sprinting fast. In this competition everything can change really quick and so I’m taking it day by day and sprint by sprint," McEwen said. "The green jersey will probably come down to the final sprint of the Tour because there are 35 points on the line to the winner, then 30, 26, 24 and so on.
"There are four guys I’ll be watching closely - Hushovd, (Stuart) O’Grady, Zabel and (Danilo) Hondo. As long as they’re not in the break in (Stage 18) everything will be fine and then we can sprint for whatever points are left at the finish."
Today’s 18th stage, which takes the riders 166 km from Annemasse-to Lons Le Saunier, is a relatively easy run ahead of tomorrow’s time-trial in Besancon. McEwen won the points competition in 2002 and finished second to fellow Australian Baden Cooke last year after being beaten in the final sprint.
JEAN LAFOND IN LE GRAND BORNAND
A RUTHLESS Lance Armstrong refused to allow his rivals a consolation stage victory as he came from behind to outsprint German Andreas Kloeden in the last few metres of the 204.5 km 17th stage of the Tour de France yesterday.
Armstrong’s fourth win in the five mountain stages of this year’s Tour - he finished second in the other one - underlined his dominance over his closest rivals as he seeks an unprecedented sixth successive Tour victory.
Germany’s Jan Ullrich finished the stage third while Italian Ivan Basso, who beat Armstrong, pictured right, on the 12th stage, finished fourth and remains second overall, four minutes and nine seconds behind Armstrong with three days to go.
The US Postal team leader, impressive in his time-trial at l’Alpe d’Huez on Wednesday, could have been expected to let his rivals grab a consolation victory in the race’s last mountain stage.
However, he refused to allow them the satisfaction and rode down Kloeden in the final metres to seal the 20th individual stage victory of his career, adding to two team time trial victories.
"Am I the new Cannibal? The answer is no," Armstrong said in reference to the nickname given to five-times Tour winner Eddy Merckx, who is regarded as the greatest cyclist in history.
The Belgian is about to be beaten by Armstrong in terms of Tours won, but he still leads comfortably in stage wins, with 34 victories.
Armstrong said another five-times Tour champion, Bernard Hinault, had congratulated him for the lack of generosity shown to his rivals.
"When I went to the podium, Hinault met me at the top of the steps and said: ‘Perfect. No gifts’," Armstrong said.
Frenchman Hinault, another merciless boss of the bunch, won 28 stages on the Tour.
"I’ve given gifts in the Tour before and I’ve never been paid back. The Tour is too special to me. It means more than any other race," Armstrong said. In 2000, Armstrong let Italian Marco Pantani win a stage at Mont Ventoux and later regretted it as he has yet to triumph on the most infamous climb in cycling. Only one rider could have made the 32-year-old change his mind about winning the stage, his team-mate and friend Floyd Landis.
Landis led the top four riders in this Tour up the last mountain and was hoping to be allowed to win the stage.
"He was the man of the day. I hoped he could ride a fast descent and win the stage. But it did not happen," Armstrong said. "He seems to be getting better and better everyday. Today was his best day ever, that’s why I really wanted him to win the stage."
The last rider to have won three stages in the Alps in the same Tour was Italy’s Gino Bartali in 1948. The only other rider left with a chance to shine yesterday was France’s Richard Virenque, who took advantage of the five climbs to secure a record seventh King of the Mountains jersey.
The last climb, the Croix de Fry, looked like a lap of honour for the 2004 Tour, with the top-four riders overall - Armstrong, Basso, Kloeden and Ullrich - in front, with Landis opening the way for them.
Armstrong obviously wanted Landis to win but they were taken off guard when Kloeden surged in the last 600 metres but Armstrong refused to allow the German the victory and mercilessly rode him down in the final few metres.
Virenque, who won the tentth stage to St Flour, collected more than 50 points in yesterday’s climbs and can not be beaten for the best climber’s classification.
With seven polka-dot jerseys, the Quick Step team leader has now eclipsed Spaniard Federico Bahamontes, who won the Tour in 1959, and Belgian Lucien van Impe, the Tour champion in 1976.
"It was important to score points today and I went for them with my guts," said Virenque. "Now I left my mark on the Tour de France. I don’t know what I’ll do next year but I’ve enjoyed this Tour."
Australia’s Robbie McEwen survived the last mountain stage to remain favourite to win the prestigious points competition and take the special green jersey. McEwen finished 109th in Le Grand Bornand more than 35 minutes behind Armstrong but with none of his rivals scoring points he kept the green jersey for another day.
"On paper it looked as if it would be a really hard day but it turned out fine," he said.
"I got over the first climb with the main field and then we formed a gruppetto on the Col de la Madeleine and rode steady all the way to finish."
McEwen has accumulated a total of 225 points so far in the Tour, 12 more than second-placed Thor Hushovd of Norway who has 213, while Germany’s Erik Zabel is third with 212 points.
To win the competition the Brisbane-born Australian will have to fight out every sprint to defend his lead and admitted the green jersey will probably be decided on Sunday’s last stage to Paris, perhaps in the final sprint on the Champs Elysees.
"I’m confident because I feel pretty good and I think I’m still sprinting fast. In this competition everything can change really quick and so I’m taking it day by day and sprint by sprint," McEwen said. "The green jersey will probably come down to the final sprint of the Tour because there are 35 points on the line to the winner, then 30, 26, 24 and so on.
"There are four guys I’ll be watching closely - Hushovd, (Stuart) O’Grady, Zabel and (Danilo) Hondo. As long as they’re not in the break in (Stage 18) everything will be fine and then we can sprint for whatever points are left at the finish."
Today’s 18th stage, which takes the riders 166 km from Annemasse-to Lons Le Saunier, is a relatively easy run ahead of tomorrow’s time-trial in Besancon. McEwen won the points competition in 2002 and finished second to fellow Australian Baden Cooke last year after being beaten in the final sprint.
