Armstrong (left), who trails overall leader Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy by eight seconds and Astana teammate Alberto Contador by two, said a crucial showdown awaits in Sunday's ride into Switzerland. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
COLMAR (France) - LANCE Armstrong stayed in third place but lost a crucial ally for the rest of the Tour de France on a wet and chilly ride when teammate Levi Leipheimer withdrew because of a broken wrist on Friday.
SETBACK BY RAIN
Pounding rain forced many in the pack to don windbreakers and made conditions unfavourable for potential contenders Cadel Evans of Australia, brothers Andy and Frank Schleck of Luxembourg or the 2008 champion Carlos Sastre of Spain.
'It was really, really cold,' Armstrong, who was riding in his 12th Tour, told The Associated Press. 'To be honest, I don't remember a day in the Tour that has been colder than that one.'
The 13th stage from Vittel to Colmar, won by Germany's Heinrich Haussler, was less secure for riders Julian Dean and Oscar Freire: They were lightly injured by shots from a suspected air rifle from the roadside.
The top standings didn't change in the 200-kilometre stage through the rolling hills of northeast France that featured three big climbs, including the demanding Col du Platzerwasel.
Armstrong, who trails overall leader Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy by eight seconds and Astana teammate Alberto Contador by two, said a crucial showdown awaits in Sunday's ride into Switzerland.
'That one is almost a guarantee because it's uphill,' the seven-time champion said of the ride from Pontarlier, France, to the Swiss ski station of Verbier. 'For sure, it's a decisive stage and exciting for the fans.'
Armstrong and Contador expressed regret about the withdrawal of Leipheimer before the stage. Leipheimer, who had been fourth overall, 39 seconds behind Nocentini, fell off his bike and broke his wrist in the last three-kilometre (two miles) of Thursday's stage.
He had surgery on the wrist on Friday, and Astana said he would return to the United States as soon as possible to begin his recovery.
'My wrist hurts a lot but it doesn't compare to the pain of watching the Tour leave me behind and not be able to ride the Tour with my teammates,' Leipheimer said in a statement. 'We've had a big battle so far. We're the favourites, and I wanted to be part of that.'
Leipheimer and Armstrong have a close relationship within Astana, which Armstrong says is riven by 'tension' with Contador.
'He's a good friend of mine so it makes it even more unfortunate, but that's cycling,' said Armstrong, stressing that Leipheimer's absence is a big loss. 'Not only does it hurt us, I think it helps the others in terms of morale, and thinking perhaps that the team has been weakened.' -- AP
