Cycling: Visions of Paris stir lone Kiwi

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Julian Dean is no quitter - especially with the ride down the famed Champs-Elysees firmly in his sights.

With more than 17 days of hard racing behind him, New Zealand's sole rider in this year's Tour de France was preparing for the 166.5km overnight stage from Annemasse to Lons Le Saunier with a steely determination.

He was confident of getting through that and tonight's testing individual time trial in Besancon.

Speaking from his team's hotel in Le Grand Bornand after yesterday's tough 204.5km haul from Bourg d'Oisans - a stage which included four tough category one climbs - Dean said: "I'm not going to quit."

He went further by saying, "I might have a crack tomorrow [in the overnight stage] or maybe on Sunday [in the often-pedestrian last stage to Paris].

"It [the finish] is getting closer. We had the last hard one today," said Dean. "On the mountain stages I have tried to ride within myself. In today's stage maybe I could have been in the middle bunch but I decided it was better to have a 'take care, ride smart' day.

"If you kill yourself out there you aren't going to be any good at the Olympics. I was never going to finish in the top 20 in a mountain stage so it's more important to look after myself.

"My condition has improved immensely through the tour. I'll come up very well for the Olympics. I'm confident of a good result in Athens."

Of the famous race, Dean said it had been a phenomenal experience.

"Just to be part of it has been amazing. The time trial up Alpe d'Huez was sensational. Among the million people packed on to the mountain on a beautiful, hot day, the support was incredible. I saw at least 10 or 12 New Zealand flags. That's quite inspirational in itself.

"I wasn't going that fast - they had time to see me."

With any rider outside the cut-off time facing elimination, Dean admitted it was very much a case of pacing himself.

"I'm never going to be close to winning something like that. I was a bit worried sitting in the starting hut, but you know you still have to go as hard as you can. As it turned out, I was eight minutes behind Lance Armstrong but still had four minutes to spare."

Dean, who watched the later riders on television in his hotel room on the mountain, said Armstrong blew away even the most seasoned riders with his ride up the mountain.

"I don't think anyone could believe what he did. It was a superhuman effort. He has been so dominant and then, as if to end any even faint hopes his rivals might hold, Armstrong said, 'I can't believe how well I'm feeling.'

"He is making some very good bike riders look ordinary. I'm lost for words."

Dean said he had spoken briefly to Armstrong before the start of yesterday's stage and again at dinner.

"I congratulated him and had a bit of a chat. We have been on the same team and have shared a lot of time together. We catch up and chat about his kids. He always tells me he is coming out to New Zealand. I'm sure at some stage he will.

"His two big loves away from cycling are fly fishing and mountain biking. I've told him New Zealand has the best in the world in both."

Dean said Armstrong had told him he wanted to race for two more years - but not necessarily in the Tour de France.

"But I can't imagine him quitting when he goes one better than anyone else has done. He wants to go two better."

Dean left the start of last night's stage in 124th place - of the 147 survivors from the original field of 188 - almost three hours behind Armstrong, who continued his blitz yesterday.

In a superb ride, Armstrong won his third successive stage with a powerful finish which was too good for Germans Andreas Kloeden and Jan Ullrich and Italian Ivan Basso.

Armstrong is now more than four minutes clear of Basso, with Kloeden another minute back in third. Ullrich, who has conceded defeat to Armstrong, is up to fourth but more than eight minutes from the lead.