Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong yesterday insisted the ongoing investigation into doping allegations levelled at him by Floyd Landis were not the cause of his poor Tour de France display.
Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong yesterday insisted the ongoing investigation into doping allegations levelled at him by Floyd Landis were not the cause of his poor Tour de France display.
An investigation was initiated by the United States' Food and Drug Administration after Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour title after testing positive for testosterone, accused many of his former teammates at the United States Postal Service team, including Armstrong, of doping.
Armstrong has never tested positive and strenuously denies all the allegations.
Armstrong began the 97th Tour with ambitions of an eighth title but fell out of contention on the opening Alpine stage and following yesterday's first Pyrenean stage lies 39 minutes 44 seconds behind race leader Andy Schleck in 38th place.
Speaking ahead of the 184.5-kilometre 14th stage from Revel to Ax-3-Domaines, Armstrong denied his uncharacteristic bike handling, which again saw him fall yesterday, is due to the investigation.
"I might be distracted, but I'm not distracted on the things people are speculating I'm distracted on," Armstrong said.
"I don't have any fear about any of that.
"I know what's gone on in my life."u00a0
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