Tour de France : Lance Armstrong defies drug critics

Lance Armstrong says the drug-doping allegations are unfounded. Source: Getty Images

ANOTHER day on the 97th Tour de France; another unwanted distraction for Lance Armstrong.

The seven-time champion was confronted with pre-race accusations by Floyd Landis, who claimed the Texan was involved in systemic doping as US Postal Services teammates.

Armstrong rebuffed the claims and proceeded to turn in the best performance among the elite cluster of riders during an 8.9km prologue, fourth behind Fabian Cancellara.

Michael Rogers, in 14th, and dual Tour de France runner-up Cadel Evans, 23rd, were the best-placed Australians.

Overnight, Armstrong was attacked by triple Tour de France winner and compatriot Greg LeMond, who predicted Armstrong would not complete the race.

"Either he will not start or he will pull out just before the race enters France. I have a feeling that the world of cycling is about to change for the better," LeMond said.

It was a vintage display from the American as the Tour de France headed out of Holland into Belgium overnight and through Flanders in honour of race legend Eddy Merckx.The blast came as Armstrong steamed into fourth, only 22sec behind Switzerland's Cancellara.

If nothing else, Armstrong will be asked to defy age - he is 38 - and repeated allegations about doping as he contests the world's most gruelling race for the last time.

Armstrong was outstanding on a slippery prologue course, appearing to deliberately slow into one corner, apparently unperturbed by time loss.

It was a clear sign the RadioShack leader has overall honours in mind and is not prepared to take unnecessary risks.

LeMond has had Armstrong in his sights for nine years. Just as the French have.

In 2001, LeMond damned Armstrong for his friendship with Italian doctor Michele Ferrari, who had admitted blood doping and the use of performance-enhancing EPO.

LeMond subsequently apologised for the attack, but again opened fire in 2004.

"If Armstrong's clean, it's the greatest comeback. And if he's not, then it's the greatest fraud," LeMond said.

Armstrong said yesterday he would not be distracted by anybody's claims - those of either LeMond or Landis, who renewed his attack in the Wall Street Journal.

"It's been 10 years, 10 years. It's nothing new," Armstrong said.

"For years, sensational stories - based on the allegations of axe-grinders - have surfaced on the eve of the Tour de France for publicity reasons, and this article is simply no different."

Armstrong was content, having seen rivals Andy Schleck, Ivan Basso and Bradley Wiggins turn in average efforts.

Evans was not happy at conceding time to Armstrong and Contador, who gained 17sec and 12sec, respectively.

"I don't know if it's such a good start," Evans said. "It was pretty wet. All the corners, where you wanted it to be dry, it was wet. I took it pretty conservatively there."

Rogers was satisfied with his performance.

"It wasn't too bad. I was quite happy. I didn't exactly have dry roads," he said.

"I lost some time on the corners, but it's the start of a long way."