Landis storms back into contention
Landis storms back into contention
Also In The News
|
Charlton skipper Luke Young has signed a new four-year contract with the Addicks. |  |
Thursday, 20, Jul 2006 11:37
American Floyd Landis made an extraordinary comeback in today's 17th stage of the Tour de France to put himself back in the running for the overall title.
The Phonak rider won the mountainous leg by over five minutes and, after being written off just 24 hours earlier, is now a leading contender as Le Tour nears Paris.
The yellow jersey was thought to be out of reach for the 30-year-old after he struggled on yesterday's punishing Villarembert climb and was left eight minutes off the pace overnight.
But his result propelled him up the overall standings and Landis is now a potential threat to the hopes of Oscar Pereiro and Carlos Sastre in second with just 30 seconds separating him from the Spanish leader.
A former team-mate of legendary Tour champion Lance Armstrong, Landis is determined to maintain the American dominance of the race.
"I have come here to win the Tour and I am not done fighting yet," he said.
"I want to win the Tour. If I had a bad day, I had to make up for it. Whoever wants to win this race has to earn it."
Saturday's time-trial from Le Creusot to Montceau-les-Mines could well see Landis completing a sensational revival and wearing the yellow jersey once more.
Britain's David Millar and Bradley Wiggins finished 60th and 124th respectively.