Armstrong Has One More Ride to Coronation

PARIS — American cyclist Lance Armstrong conquered the competition in Saturday’s race against the clock and is only 89 miles away from victory today in the Tour de France.

The 27-year-old Texan widened his overall lead by 1 minute 22 seconds in Saturday’s 19th stage--a 35-mile time trial at Futuroscope, home to a futuristic theme park. Alex Zulle of Switzerland moved to second, 7:37 behind Armstrong, while Fernando Escartin of Spain slid into third place, 10:26 behind the leader. Laurent Dufaux, also Swiss, is fourth.

Armstrong, who rides with the U.S. Postal Service team, sprinted past the finish line nine seconds ahead of Zulle, racing the stage at an average of 30 mph. His time was 1 hour 8 minutes 17 seconds. Armstrong’s teammate, Tyler Hamilton, also from the United States, came in third.

Throughout the race, Armstrong, who three years ago was diagnosed with life-threatening cancer that spread throughout his body, has wowed fans with consistently high performances.

Saturday’s time trial marks Armstrong’s fourth stage victory of this year’s race. He started with a bang, winning the Tour’s prologue at Le Puy du Fou, France. His first-place finish in the other time trial of the race nearly two weeks ago enabled him to recapture the overall leader’s yellow jersey, which he has held since. His third stage win was at Sestrieres, Italy, the first mountain leg.

With victory a near certainty, Armstrong reflected on his performance.

“Fifty percent is for the cancer community,” he said. “Those who survive and those who aren’t so fortunate. Twenty-five percent is for myself and my team, and 25 percent is for the people that didn’t believe in me.”

Armstrong said he’s still annoyed with those who thought he would not return to the top of cycling after his battle with cancer.

“We all know what team didn’t believe in me,” he said, referring to the French team Cofidis. “I don’t want to name names, but they have always been in my mind.

“When the world was listening, they said they wanted Lance Armstrong back in the Tour. Three months later they were breaking the contract. Now, Lance Armstrong is going to win the Tour de France.”

During today’s last stage, which begins at Arpajon, about 18 miles south of Paris, and concludes with 11 laps on the Champs-Elysees in the French capital, the American will simply work to maintain his substantial lead.

“The tactic is to protect the yellow jersey from danger,” U.S Postal sports director Johan Bruyneel said Friday.

Armstrong recalled an e-mail he received last year from Bruyneel.

“It said: ‘I look forward to seeing you on the podium in Paris next year.’ I thought he was crazy,” he said. “But he was passionate and that was infectious.

“I didn’t expect to win the Tour. It would have been a very different race if Alex Zulle hadn’t lost six minutes in a crash on day two. But I will finish a happy man.”

France, a nation known for its fascination with cycling, has yet to win a stage in the race. Richard Virenque, the highest-ranked Frenchman, fell from fifth place to eighth overall after a disappointing run in Saturday’s stage.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Tour at a Glance

* 19th stage: A 35-mile time trial around the science and technology park at Futuroscope.

* Stage winner: Lance Armstrong with a time of 1 hour 8 minutes 17 seconds.

* Others: Switzerland’s Alex Zulle was second, with American Tyler Hamilton third.

* Overall: Armstrong holds a commanding 7:37 lead over Zulle.

* Next stage: Today, the final 89-mile leg from Arpajon to the Champs-Elysees in Paris.