Cycling: Armstrong proves he's simply the best

L'ALPE D'HUEZ - Lance Armstrong's dominating surge up the Alpe d'Huez in the Tour de France yesterday should not come as a surprise to anyone in cycling, say competitors and coaches.

Roger Legeay, sporting director of the Credit Agricole team, said Armstrong's acceleration past Germany's Jan Ullrich at the base of Alpe D'Huez and his overtaking of Frenchman Laurent Roux midway up the climb should have been expected.

"This was a real attack by Armstrong - we all should have expected it," Legeay said as his own riders trickled in after the first mountain stage of this year's event.

"This quite simply is the story of the favourite fulfilling expectations."

Australian sprinter Stuart O'Grady, a member of Legeay's team, agreed with his coach.

"He's the best rider in the world. Today just proved that," said O'Grady, who gave up the overall leader's yellow jersey after finishing 33m 2s behind Armstrong on the three-peak stage from Aix-les-Bains.

O'Grady is still one of three riders ahead of Armstrong in the overall standings, although the Australian's lead is not expected to last for long as the tour passes through four more mountain stages.

Armstrong's win yesterday was uncannily similar to his stunning performance in the first mountain stage in each of the last two tours - both of which he won.

Despite Armstrong's expert and almost predictable ride, his main rival, Ullrich, warned fans not to count him out yet.

"The tour is not lost. Throughout the day and even into the last climb I wasn't feeling so bad," said Ullrich, who finished 1m 59s behind Armstrong and trails the Texan by 2m 34s in the overall standings.

"I'd like to think that tomorrow will be mine," the German said, referring to the 32km uphill individual time trial between Grenoble and Chamrousse.

New Zealand's Chris Jenner finished in 111th place, 40m 20s behind Armstrong, and in a 68-rider pack.

The overall leader is Francois Simon, of France, 11m 54s ahead of Andrei Kivilev, of Kazakhstan, 18m 10s in front of O'Grady and 20m 7s ahead of Armstrong.

Spaniard Joseba Beloki is fifth, 21m 42s behind Simon. Then comes Frenchman Christophe Moreau (22m 21s) and Ullrich (22m 41s).

- NZPA