PAU, FRANCE - Ivan Basso is just 2 minutes, 46 seconds behind Lance Armstrong at the Tour de France. As far as the Italian rider is concerned, the race is over.
"It's not possible to beat him," the second-place Basso said Monday as riders rested in Pau. "I have done all I can."
Heading into Tuesday's 16th stage, Armstrong holds a significant advantage over his closest challengers, who are running out of time with the race ending Sunday.
With a time trial on the penultimate day - Armstrong's specialty - Basso needs to make huge time gains in the four stages before that for an improbable comeback. Basso's Team CSC director, Bjarne Riis, also seemed resigned to finishing no higher than second.
"He has class, strength and talent," Riis said of Armstrong. "It's not easy to beat someone like that."
Tuesday's 112.2-mile stage from Mourenx to Pau is the last tough mountain route of the Tour, before riders head through the Massif Central area of France on their way to the finish in Paris.
Armstrong's team director, Johan Bruyneel, remains cautious about Tuesday's trek, which features the Col de Marie-Blanque, a category 1 climb, and the Col d'Aubisque, a harder ascent which doesn't have a rating. It snakes up for 10 miles at a 7 percent gradient.
"It's a difficult stage. The last climb is tough, and pretty far from the finish," Bruyneel said. "We need to be careful and keep an eye on the team. Everyone can have a bad day. We need to protect Lance and let the race work for us."
The Discovery Channel riders have had two bad days so far during the Tour. However, Armstrong didn't lose any time to his rivals either time.
"We have a decent lead with a big time trial to come," Bruyneel said. "For the moment, it's enough - 2:46 on Basso and more on the next guys. Maybe we can take a little more advantage. But it doesn't matter if it's 30 seconds, all that matters is to win."
Jan Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner who was once seen as Armstrong's biggest threat, trails by 5:58 and Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan is behind by 9:38.
"I've said it before. I have never considered Vinokourov as a contender to win the Tour," Bruyneel said, adding that he was "an interesting rider" who could be a useful addition to the team once Armstrong steps down.
Bruyneel wanted to recruit Basso after next year's Tour, but missed out on the chance. Team CSC announced Monday that the Italian has signed a new contract, tying him to Riis until 2009.
"It's a shame, he would have been a good leader for our team," Bruyneel said. "He is one of the best guys, especially what he is showing now. He will probably finish on the podium, that says a lot about him."
Armstrong didn't meet with reporters Monday. He warmed up with teammates on a training ride, led by George Hincapie - winner of his first ever individual Tour stage on Sunday in a thrilling solo ride on this year's toughest mountain stage.
Hincapie has been touted by Armstrong as a possible team leader next season, but Bruyneel said he has yet to decide.
"It all depends what we expect and how high we put our goals," Bruyneel said. "When Lance is gone, do we focus everything on the Tour and be happy with someone who is top five? If that is the case, then George could do it."
Following Tuesday's mountain stage is a flat route from Pau to Revel, which is a potential hazard as sprinters will be jostling for position.
Thursday
August 7th, 2025
2:45AM
