Armstrong loses some of his lead at Tour de France
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-08 09:28

NANCY, France (AP) _ Heavy downpours, treacherous rain-slickened roads, buffeting winds and a nasty crash in the final dash to the finish line. Not a Tour de France day that Lance Armstrong will want to remember.

Discovery Channel team rider Lance Armstrong of the U.S. braves the rain during the 199km (123 miles) sixth stage of the 92nd Tour de France cycling race between Troyes and Nancy, July 7, 2005. [Reuters]

The six-time champion came through soaked but unscathed and kept his overall lead Thursday in the three-week race's sixth stage through eastern France, from Troyes to Nancy.

But "it wasn't pretty," said Armstrong, who placed 32nd and finished alongside two of his teammates.

One of the American's main challengers, Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan, took 19 seconds off Armstrong's lead by dashing ahead in the closing stages to place second. But he still trails Armstrong by 1 minute, 2 seconds overall.

Lorenzo Bernucci of Italy, a 25-year-old racing his first Tour, won at Nancy. He kissed his wedding ring as he crossed the line and dedicated his first victory to his wife.

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