Armstrong Still on the Defensive

ANTWERP, Belgium â€”  Lance Armstrong finished in 80th place in the second stage of the Tour de France on Monday and again had to fend off questions about drugs and cycling.

Belgium’s Marc Wauters won the stage and took the overall lead. Armstrong, bidding for a third consecutive title, crossed the line in the main pack, 22 seconds behind Wauters.

The Texan dropped from third to 11th place in the overall standings but still remains a favorite to win his sport’s most grueling event. Riders will cover more than 2,100 miles in the three-week race that ends July 29 in Paris.

Before the stage from Calais in northeast France to Antwerp, Armstrong defended his ties to an Italian doctor whose name has been linked to the drug EPO.

However, Armstrong said he would “re-evaluate� his relationship if the physician is found guilty of wrongdoing in an ongoing drug inquiry.

Wauters finished the 136.71-mile stage in 4 hours 35 minutes 47 seconds. He takes the leader’s yellow jersey from France’s Christophe Moreau of the Festina team.

Wauters crossed the line in a sprint finish. France’s Arnaud Pretot was in second place and South Africa’s Robert Hunter was third. All had the same time.

Wauters shook hands with Belgium’s King Albert II after winning the stage.

“It’s like a dream,� the Rabobank rider said. “The yellow jersey is a Godsend.�

He will wear it today when he rides through his hometown of Lummen on the third stage, an all-Belgian leg of 123 miles between Antwerp and Seraing.

“I hope to be allowed to meet my wife and children and to stop for a few minutes,� he said.

Fans turned out in force for the run through the pancake-flat Flanders region that overlaps France and Belgium. They took advantage of sunshine after a weekend of gloomy skies and strong winds.

For Armstrong, the day’s racing was overshadowed by his association with Dr. Michele Ferrari. Armstrong said he was “proud� to work with Ferrari and described him as “honest.�

Armstrong, in response to newspaper reports, released a statement Sunday acknowledging his ties to the doctor. The cyclist denies ever taking the banned performance-enhancer EPO.

Ferrari is the subject of an Italian investigation linked to his role as physician to several prominent cyclists. A trial is scheduled for September.

Armstrong said he worked with Ferrari “on a limited basis� since 1995, and is currently working with him on a possible attempt at breaking the world one-hour record.

Armstrong said he uses only “natural methods of improvement,� including altitude tents and dietary advice.

“If the investigation throws up a guilty verdict, we’ll re-evaluate the relationship,� Armstrong said. “I feel he’s honest and innocent.�

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At A Glance

Today

Stage 3--Antwerp to Seraing, Belgium, 123 miles

Overall Standings

1-Marc Wauters, Belgium, Radobank, 9:40:17; 2-Stuart O’Grady, Australia, Credit Agricole, 12 seconds behind; 3-Servais Knaven, Netherlands, Domo Farm Frites, :27 behind; 4-Christophe Moreau, France, Festina, same time; 5-Jaan Kirsipuu, Estonia, AG2R, :28

Also:

10-Bobby Julich, United States, Credit Agricole, :31; 11-Lance Armstrong, United States, U.S. Postal Service, same time

Second Stage

Antwerp, Belgium, 136 miles from Calais, France to Antwerp, Belgium

1-Wauters; 2-Arnaud Pretot, France, Festina; 3-Robert Hunter, South Africa, Lampre; 4-Knaven; 5-O’Grady

Also:

53-Fred Rodriguez, United States, Domo; 58-Kevin Livingston, United States, Team Telekom; 80-Armstrong

*

Complete second-stage results: D7