FRANCE: SUPPORTERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD GATHER IN FRANCE TO FOLLOW LANCE ARMSTRONG ON HIS WAY TO ALMOST SECURED 6TH TOUR DE FRANCE VICTORY

Record ID: 647895

  • Title: FRANCE: SUPPORTERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD GATHER IN FRANCE TO FOLLOW LANCE ARMSTRONG ON HIS WAY TO ALMOST SECURED 6TH TOUR DE FRANCE VICTORY
  • Date: 23rd July 2004
  • Summary: LONS LES SAUNIERS, FRANCE (JULY 23, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. LANCE ARMSTRONG COMING OUT OF CAR, SIGNING AUTOGRAPH AFTER FRIDAY'S STAGE 2. CLOSEUP AUTOGRAPH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (French) SUPPORTER BENOIT SAYING: "Some say ugly things about him, but that is because they do not see him during the 10 months before the tour, when he's conjuring up all that amazing energy. He has revolutionised cycling with his own riding technique, different from others who use lower gears. He has brought many new ideas and truly revolutionised cycling." 4. GERMAN KID APPLAUDING ARMSTRONG 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMAN SUPPORTER KASTER SAYING: "He's a great sportsman, he's very strong, very dominant. It's not easy to win the tour five times, I even say six times, because it will be six times. He's a strong man, of course." BESANCON, FRANCE (24 JULY 2004) (REUTERS) 6. AMERICAN SUPPORTERS WITH FLAG 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN SUPPORTERS JIM AND CHRIS SAYING: "He's the greatest cyclist ever. Six times!" 8. AMERICAN FAMILY WITH BANNER 9. FATHER ANDY SAKING HIS LITTLE GITL PATRICIA WHO WILL WIN, AND GIRL ANSWERING "LANCE ARMSTRONG!" 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) JENNIFER SAYING: "We are waiting for him, we are going to see his sixth victory" 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANDY SAYING: "Great guy, vanquised cancer, a hero, an American hero, we love Lance Armstrong, yeah." 12. AMERICAN SUPPORTERS 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN SUPPORTER SAYING: "Lance is going to win, I'm positive. I guarantee it!" 14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN SUPPORTER SAYING: "Very good preparation. He's prepared, he's physically fit, professionally fit, logical, everything is fine. He has a great team, so he cannot lose: he has a great team that is working for him. Robin will tell you also." 15. ACTOR ROBIN WILLIAMS AMONG SUPPORTERS 16. (SOUNDBITE) (English and French) ROBIN WILLIAMS SAYING: "My feeling about Lance is extraordinary. I think this sixth time, thank God, he will win the yellow t-shirt in Paris. I'm here specially for him and for the Postal team which is like a high speed train. Good bye! Be good!" 17. ROBIN WILLIAMS SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS 18. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SUPPORTER LARRY FROM NEW YORK SAYING: "I've got Lance's cap, I got it on the 15th stage, with my friend. I just had Robin's signature, and may be I will also get Lance's. Go, Armstrong!" 19. SUPPORTER WITH BANNER 20. LANCE ARMSTRONG SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS, SHAKING HANDS AND EMBRACING HIS MOTHER 21. LANCE ARMSTRONG'S MOTHER 22. LANCE ARMSTRONG SINGING AUTOGRAPHS 23. CYCLIST TRAINING 24. LANCE ARMSTRONG GOING INSIDE TRUCK 25. SUPPORTER WITH BANNER WHILE LANCE ARMSTRONG TRAINS ON BICYCLE (VARIOUS) 26. SUPPORTER WITH BANNER TAKING PICTURES 27. LANCE ARMSTRONG GOING OUT OF TRUCK 28. SUPPORTERS 29. LANCE ARMSTRONG RIDING TOWARDS START LINE 30. AMERICAN SUPPORTERS CHEERING HIM Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 7th August 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONS LES SAUNIERS AND BESANCON, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVA75TT455AHM2Z8Z05BAUF96JFQ
  • Story Text: Actor Robin Williams among the United States fans as
    Lance Armstrong stays on course to win the Tour de France
    for the sixth time.


    Supporters from all over the world have gathered in
    France to follow Lance Armstrong on his way to an almost
    virtually secured sixth victory at the Tour de France.

    The United Stated rider will be looking to seal an
    almost perfect Tour de France with a fifth individual stage
    win in Saturday's 55-km time trial in Besancon, on the
    penultimate day of the race.

    Hundreds of supporters have been following him across
    the various stages, cherring him and hoping to get a chance
    for an autograph.

    Benoit, a French fan who travelled to Lons les Sauniers
    for Friday's stage, said Armstrong had revolutionised
    cycling. "Some say ugly things about him, but that is
    because they do not see him during the 10 months before the
    tour, when he's conjuring up all that amazing energy. He
    has revolutionised
    cycling with his own riding technique, different from
    others who use lower gears. He has brought many new ideas
    and truly revolutionised cycling", he said.

    Almost certainly on his way to a record sixth overall
    victory, the American has won all the stages that mattered
    in a Tour supposedly designed to favour his rivals.

    His U.S. Postal team won the team time trial in the
    first week and the Texan took four of the five mountain
    stages held in the Alps and the Pyrenees, including a time
    trial at l'Alpe d'Huez.

    He left one stage to Ivan Basso in La Mongie, finishing
    second on the Italian's wheels. But after his win in Le
    Grand Bornand on Thursday, his 20th on the Tour, Armstrong
    made it clear he would take everything up for grabs. As a
    result, Armstrong will be the clear favourite to win.

    Basso, second overall four minutes and nine seconds
    behind, is not a specialist and is expected to concede more
    time on a flat course which should favour powerful men like
    Armstrong.

    A German supporter highlighted the physical power of
    the Texan rider: "He's a great sportsman, he's very strong,
    very dominant. It's not easy to win the tour five times, I
    even say six times, because it will be six times. He's a
    strong man, of course."
    United States fans were full of confidence Armstrong
    would make it six times in 2004: "He's he greatest cyclist
    ever. Six times!" said Jim and his views were shared by
    Chris.

    "We are waiting for him, we are going to see his sixth
    victory," added Jennifer who was taken to see Armstrong
    with her father Andy: "Great guy, vanquised cancer, a hero,
    an American hero, we love Lance Armstrong, yeah," said
    Jennifer's father.

    While other supporters emphasized his good preparation,
    one of Armstrong most famous followers
    on site was actor and comediant Robin Williams.

    "My feeling about Lance is extraordinary. I think this
    sixth time, thank God, he will win the yellow t-shirt in
    Paris. I'm here specially for him and for the Postal team
    which is like a high speed train. Good bye! Be good!" said
    the Hollywood star.

    Memorabilia inspired on Lance's achievement was making
    a huge success at the Tour. "I've got Lance's cap, I got it
    on the 15th stage, with my friend. I just had Robin's
    signature, and may be I will also get Lance's. Go,
    Armstrong!" said Larry from New York.

    The weather forecast predicts sun, which could be good
    news for the 1997 Tour champion, who is usually at his best
    in the third week of the race.




    MESSAGE TERMINATED

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