Lance Armstrong closed out his amazing career with a seventh consecutive Tour de France victory Sunday — and did it a little
earlier than expected.
Because of wet conditions, race organizers stopped the clock as Armstrong and the main pack entered Paris. Although riders were still racing, with eight laps of the Champs-Elysees to complete, organizers said that Armstrong had officially won.
The stage started as it has done for the past six years — with Armstrong celebrating and wearing the race leader’s yellow jersey.
One hand on his handlebars, the other holding a
flute of champagne, Armstrong toasted his teammates as he pedaled into Paris to collect his crown. He held up seven finger — one for eachwin — and a piece of paper with the number 7 on it.
His sixth win last year already set a record, putting Armstrong ahead of four other riders — Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, Belgian Eddy Merckx and Spaniard Miguel Indurain — who all won five Tours.
Armstrong’s new record of seven wins confirmed him as one of the greatest cyclists ever, and capped a career where he came back from cancer to dominate cycling’s most prestigious and taxing race.