| News Stories - Armstrong's sixth race victory |
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| Crowds of
Parisians and tourists - many Americans - lined
the Champs Elys¨Ĥes to see the climax
of the most prestigious and gruelling
event in the cycling year. Lance Armstrong entered the capital wearing
the leader's yellow jersey, protected by eight blue-clad riders
from his US postal team; behind them, in glorious summer sunshine,
the multi-coloured phalanx formed
by the rest of the competitors.
All Armstrong had to do was to stay upright - his advance on
the runner-up was unassailable
- and in the middle of the field, he cruised over the finishing-line
into sports history. His record six victories outstrips
the greats of the past - Merckx, Anquetil, Hinault and Indurain.
It's an extraordinary achievement for a man who conquered
testicular cancer seven years ago.
It would be wrong to say that the French have
taken him to their hearts - they prefer their sporting
demigods more romantic and more
French. But no one surely can now contest Lance Armstrong's claim
to being one of the great athletes of the age.
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lined: stood on both sides
climax: the point of greatest intensity
or interest; a culmination
prestigious: having a good reputation,
glamorous
grueling: extremely demanding,
hard work
phalanx: a compact mass of people
unassailable: impossible to beat or rival
outstrips: surpasses, beats, betters
conquered: won his fight against
taken him to their hearts: liked him, felt fond of him
demigods: people who are very popular and admired (literally,
a demigod is a partly divine being)
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