Cycling: Honour at stake for Armstrong in last time trial

LE PUY, France - The penultimate stage of the Tour de France cycling race, a 55.5-kms individual time trial around St Etienne on Saturday, could help Lance Armstrong finish his career in style.

Bizarrely, the American could retire on Sunday by claiming a record seventh Tour victory but without crossing the line first in any race during his final cycling season.

The Texan had come to his last Tour without a win this season and, except for the success of his Discovery Channel side in the team time-trial during the first week, he has yet to win a stage in his favourite race.

On paper, Armstrong should be considered the overwhelming favourite to succeed on Saturday. He is also determined to claim his final Tour triumph with at least one stage honour.

"Last year I won five, this year has been different. I would have liked to win a road stage but there's always the last time trial," he said.

Since his first crowning in 1999, the most successful Tour rider has won an individual time trial every year except in 2003, by far the toughest of his six victories.

Armstrong was beaten in the opening 19-kms time trial in Noirmoutier by fellow-American David Zabriskie, who has since pulled out injured.

With the race finishing on Sunday, only two riders left in the field have beaten the Texan against the clock: Colombian Santiago Botero and Germany's Jan Ullrich.

Botero, 51st in the standings and more than one hour and 41 minutes behind Armstrong, probably hopes in St Etienne to avenge a dreadful overall performance. But his current form does not make him a likely contender for victory.

For Ullrich, much more is at stake.

The 1997 Tour winner has finished on the podium in six of his seven Tours. The T-Mobile team leader is currently fourth -- his final placing in 2004 - and only two minutes and 12 seconds behind Danish climber Michael Rasmussen.

In Noirmoutier, and over a much shorter distance, Ullrich had beaten Rasmussen by 2:06.

Twice a time trial world champion , Ullrich should normally achieve his goal of making it to third overall.

"I will fight for every second. I'm not going to give up without a fight. I know that Rasmussen is strong but I can make it," he said.

Kicked out of the podium by his team mate Andreas Kloeden and by Italian Ivan Basso last year, the German confessed it had been a painful experience.

"I didn't expect to feel so bad about it. Every year I had been on a podium and I was fourth. I had the feeling I had been robbed of something," he said.

The hilly profile of the stage, with the third category Col de la Gachet right in the middle, could however help Rasmussen retain some of his lead.

"Normally, on a flat time trial, I would not have had a chance against him. But in St Etienne, it will be very technical and it gives me a slim chance even though I must be realistic, he's the specialist," said Rasmussen.

Basso, almost certain to finish second in the standings, also has a point to make in the penultimate stage.

Winner of a tough time trial during the Giro d'Italia, the CSC team leader will be determined to demonstrate that he will be a serious contender in the future for the Tour crown.

- REUTERS