Lance Armstrong is not a bitter man after failing to add another Tour de France honour to his kitty.
Lance Armstrong is not a bitter man after failing to add another Tour de France honour to his kitty. The 37-year-old finished third overall after yesterday's 21st and final stage at 5:24 behind Spain's Alberto Contador, who built an unassailable lead after Saturday's climb up to Mont Ventoux and rode to Paris in the yellow jersey. No ill-feeling: Lance Armstrong
No regrets
"I came here to do my best and I came across some guys who were clearly better than me," he said. "I don't have any regrets, I got put out a couple of times, but considering my age and recent racing, it's not a bad performance overall." The Texan rode the Champs Elysees here on a bike covered with hundreds of dead butterflies after being customised by British artist Damien Hirst. Hirst was invited to adapt the bike which will be auctioned to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation in the fight against cancer.
"Damien designed the bike and he's arguably one of the best living contemporary artists," said Armstrong. "I am a collector of his stuff and he agreed to do the bike for me. All the bikes I have ridden this year from the Tour of California to the Giro d'Italia to here are being auctioned off for the foundation. When that bike sells it is sure to be one of the most expensive bikes ever sold." And Armstrong said he was ready for a break now.
"I am ready to go home, it's been a long three weeks as usual," he said. "It's stressful and there are a lot of commitments outside of riding the bike race. I am ready to go on vacation for sure."
Meanwhile, Mark Cavendish, who rode a stunning race to win the final stage, said he had unfinished business in the contest for the green jersey the classification awarded to the best all-round sprinter, which was won by Norway's Thor Hushovd. Cavendish said: "I didn't win the green jersey did I? But I'm happy with six stages. I said I would be content with one stage and reaching Paris. We've had a beautiful three weeks here. To win is the feeling I like best so we will try to target the green jersey next year."
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