Might Be All Downhill Now for Armstrong

COURCHEVEL, France —  With a week to go, the Tour de France all but belongs to Lance Armstrong.

The defending champion proved imperious in the mountains again, stretching his lead in cycling’s showcase event substantially Sunday, when Italy’s Marco Pantani captured the 15th stage.

Armstrong finished 50 seconds behind in fourth place in the tough Alpine terrain, but he extended his advantage over Jan Ullrich from 4 minutes 55 seconds to 7:26.

With only one mountain stage left, there is little time for anyone to catch the Texan. When he battled back from cancer to win last year, Armstrong led by 6:19 at this point.

After today’s rest day, Armstrong has to negotiate only Tuesday’s 122-mile course from Courchevel to Morzine before the final stages to Paris.

His only realistic challenger is Ullrich, whose conditioning has been far from strong this year. The German struggled again Sunday and finished 15th, 3:21 behind the winner.

Pantani won a stage for the second time, this one a 108-mile run from Briancon to Courchevel. He was magnificent on the climbs, as he was two years ago when he won the Tour de France.

He nearly quit cycling this year.

“It was very difficult last year,” he said. “The Italian press and media have made it tough for me and my family. I really thought of finishing but after reflection, and some pain I decided I had the strength to come back and show that I can still have great moments.”

Pantani has barely raced at the top level since being thrown out of the 1999 Giro D’Italia for failing a drug test. In the fallout of the scandal, Pantani didn’t defend his Tour de France title and seemed to be drifting out of the sport until a surprise appearance at last month’s Giro d’Italia.

On Sunday, he powered past longtime leader Jose Maria Jimenez in the final 1.8 miles to win by 41 seconds and move from ninth to sixth place in the standings.

The 15th stage, which came before the second rest day of the race, was the fourth mountain stage and the second in the Alps.

A group of eight cleared the pack and led by more than five minutes on the approach to Madeleine. Four of them--Jimenez and Javier Otxoa of Spain and Daniele Nardello and Massimiliano Lelli of Italy--opened another gap at the front.

Following the pattern of several recent legs, Armstrong, Pantani, Richard Virenque and Ullrich battled among themselves farther back.

Armstrong and Pantani led a chase for the leaders while Ullrich dropped back.

With three miles to go, Pantani attacked while Armstrong, knowing he was well ahead in the overall standings, coasted home.

A 12-year-old boy died Sunday, two days after being hit by a publicity vehicle while watching the race. He had been treated in Marseille for head trauma and other injuries.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Tour de France at a Glance

A look at Sunday’s 15th stage:

* STAGE--A mountainous 108-mile route from Briancon to Courchevel.

* STAGE WINNER--Marco Pantani of Italy in 5 hours 34 minutes 46 seconds.

* HOW OTHERS FARED--Defending champion Lance Armstrong finished fourth, 50 seconds behind Pantani. Jan Ullrich was 15th, 3:21 behind the winner.

* QUOTE OF THE DAY--”After reflection and some pain I decided I had the strength to come back and show that I can still have great moments.”

--Pantani, who had considered retiring this year

* NEXT STAGE--After today’s rest day, the riders go 122 miles from Courchevel to Morzine.