Lance Armstrong says that rating his efforts in the Dauphiné Libéré as a “B-plus” might be a little too generous.
“I wasn't explosive and I wasn't able to make the selection, only to follow,” Armstrong told the Associated Press. “But I know from here I can step up another level.”
Armstrong used the weeklong bicycle race in southeastern France to test his readiness to launch an attempt on an unprecedented seventh victory in the Tour de France, which begins July 2.
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team manager Johan Bruyneel seemed pleased. “Lance is where he needs to be.” Armstrong is expected to train in the Alps in a few days.
Despite coming in fourth place in the Dauphiné Libéré, Armstrong finished only 59 seconds behind the winner, Inigo Landaluze of the Euskatel team. Other podium finishers were Santiago Botero (Phonak) and the US's Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner).
The Discovery team also took the top three places on Sunday, with George Hincapie winning the stage (his second of the race), followed by Yaroslav Popovych and Armstrong.
Meanwhile, over at the Tour of Switzerland (another Tour de France tuneup), Armstrong's challenger Jan Ullrich maintains a slim lead in the overall standings.
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