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Tour de trash-talking Armstrong accuses Pantani of lacking 'class'
COURCHEVEL, France (AP) -- Lance Armstrong thought he was being respectful by letting Marco Pantani win a Tour de France stage last week but now regrets being so generous. The defending Tour de France champion, who is set to retain his title this week, eased up in the final stages of the famed climb up Mont Ventoux after a rousing battle with the Italian. Pantani, one of the world's great climbers and 1998 Tour de France champion, has since told Italian journalists that the American's move was an insult. "I am very disappointed. I thought he had more class than that," Armstrong said of Pantani on Monday, a rest day on the Tour. "It is unfortunate, but we are now seeing him in his true colors. I felt like it was a gift but now know that it was a mistake to give him the gift." Many race fans were surprised at the end of last Thursday's 12th stage when Armstrong, seeing that his main challengers for the title had pulled back, eased off in the final 20 meters. The 28-year-old Texan explained his decision by saying Pantani's riding had been "admirable." "Pantani is a great climber, a great champion, but he wasn't the best man on Ventoux and anyone who saw the race knows that," Armstrong said. Pantani and officials from his team, Mercatone, weren't immediately available for comment, but the spat between arguably the two biggest names in cycling will add spice to Wednesday's 16th stage, another mountain climb from Courchevel to Morzine. "I would be lying if I said I won't be thinking about it tomorrow [Tuesday]," Armstrong said. Armstrong had another dig at Pantani, referring to the Italian by his old nickname of "The Elephant." Pantani, famous for his bald head, earrings and bandana, now likes to be called "The Pirate." Pantani's win at Ventoux launched a great comeback. The 30-year-old had barely raced at the top level since being thrown out of the 1999 Giro D'Italia for failing a doping test. In the fallout of the scandal, Pantani didn't defend his Tour de France title and seemed to be drifting out of the sport until a surprise appearance at last month's Giro d'Italia. Pantani won his second stage of the race on Sunday, when Armstrong built a commanding seven-minute, 26-second advantage over second-placed Jan Ullrich of Germany. "I like Pantani and respect him and know the last 12 months have been tough. We all make mistakes, mistakes in character judgment. I made a mistake but still respect him as a rider." Pantani isn't in Armstrong's good books but the American paid tribute to Ullrich. "Ullrich is still the biggest talent in cycling," Armstrong said. "I am surprised to be so far ahead of him. But he is a real gentleman unlike the last person we were talking about."
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