Armstrong goes for his 6th straight win starting tomorrow. Will he do it?
Already some controversy:
Already some controversy:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040702/ap_on_sp_ot/cyc_tour_de_franceLIEGE, Belgium - It's a valid question: Did Tour de France organizers design a course specifically to thwart Lance Armstrong's drive for a record sixth win?
The course favors some of Armstrong's strongest rivals and blunts some of his own particular strengths. But Armstrong says he believes organizers are just aiming for spectacle.
Bottom line: The five-time champion thinks the best man will win and he's steeling himself for his hardest Tour yet.
"The race will be tight, will be very tough to win," he said from Liege, where the three-week race begins Saturday.
So, where are the pitfalls?
Pick your spot. The 2,100-mile route has some Armstrong rivals licking their lips in anticipation.
The biggest changes are in time trials, races against the clock where Armstrong usually excels.
New rules limit the amount of time squads can lose in the team time trial on Day 5. That could hurt Armstrong because his winning U.S. Postal Service team last year used the demanding and technical event to open up hefty gaps over rivals.