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Unassailable Zabel wins sprint finish; Armstrong keeps safe lead
TROYES, France (AP) -- Erik Zabel of Germany outpedaled a field of fellow sprinters Saturday to win the penultimate stage of the Tour de France, a contest otherwise low on drama or tension because of the unassailable lead held by defending champion Lance Armstrong. With his arms raised in jubilation, Zabel of Deutsche Telekom crossed the finish line in Troyes more than six hours and 254.5 kilometers (158 miles) from the start -- and mere milliseconds ahead of more than a dozen pursuers. To Zabel's left, Robbie McEwen of Australia hung his head in exhaustion, while to his right Jeroen Blijlevens of Holland banged his fist angrily against his handlebars. It was a long-expected stage victory for Zabel, one of the sport's top sprinters, who had finished second many times in recent years, including twice this year, but last won a Tour stage back in 1997. "I can't explain why it's been three years without a win," said Zabel, who leads this year's competition for most points scored, just as he has since 1996. "I've been second and third something like 15 times. I've had a hard time on that front. For me personally, this is a great moment." Armstrong, who scored his first stage victory Friday to build his overall lead back to more than six minutes over his closest rival, German Jan Ullrich, was happy to pedal within the main pack near Ullrich, captain of the Deutsche Telekom squad. They both left the day's pace-setting to a breakaway band of three lesser-known cyclists led by local favorite Francois Simon of France, who faded in the final frantic finish and finished 38th The bulk of the 128-strong field crossed the line in a continuous mass, leaving them all with Zabel's finishing time of 6 hours, 14 minutes, 13 seconds. "I think everybody feels relief that the race is almost over. Three weeks is a long time for any sporting event," said Armstrong, who overcame cancer to win last year's Tour.
He insisted he couldn't be sure of victory Sunday, noting he must "stay out of trouble" during the 136-kilometer (86-mile) stage in Paris from the Eiffel Tower to the Champs-Elysees. "We have to be careful -- it's still a stage, it still counts, it's still official, and I'll still not be convinced of victory until we finish the race," he said. Armstrong stood on the podium to receive the traditional bouquets and kisses reserved for the Tour's overall leader. The ceremony took place just meters from a crossroads named in honor of American Gen. George "Blood and Guts" Patton. Spectators lined the sun-bathed route for hours beforehand, setting up chairs, picnic tables, umbrellas -- even a few sitting high in the elevated diggers of construction-yard backhoes. People stood several-deep alongside the tightest corners and steepest slopes, where cyclists must inevitably slow down and make for a better spectacle. More ardent fans, brushes and spraycans in hand, flew French tricolors and painted grand capital-letter slogans on the pavement to encourage their nation's favored riders: "Allez [Go], Moreau," "Bravo, Virenque," "Bonjour, Simon." Along the way the cyclists passed the burial place of Charles de Gaulle, France's long-serving post-war president. Tour de France Director Jean-Marie le Blanc laid a memorial wreath at the massive stone monument topped by a double-barred Lorraine cross. The rolling corn and wheat fields eventually gave way to the vines and forests of the Champagne region, where some local producers sold their white and rose bubblies by the roadside. The action on the race track was similarly laid-back. For the first half of the race, Armstrong and the main pack rolled along at a leisurely pace well below 40 kilometers (25 miles) per hour, slower than would be expected if Armstrong hadn't built such a commanding lead.
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