21 Jun 2010

Armstrong second in Tour of Switzerland

5:34 am on 21 June 2010

The American cycling great Lance Armstrong has secured his best result in a stage race this season, finishing second overall in the Tour of Switzerland behind Luxembourg's Frank Schleck.

The final time trial at Liestal was won by Germany's Tony Martin. Switzerland's world champion Fabian Cancellara was second and American Dave Zabriskie in third.

Armstrong's 11th place, one minute nine seconds back, propelled him into second overall and put the 38-year-old American in an upbeat mood for his next race, the Tour de France where he is chasing an unprecedented eighth title.

Armstrong says third in the Tour of Luxembourg, second in Switzerland, he'll do the math for the next race.

He says all he has to do now is stay healthy and find that extra one percent.

The RadioShack leader pointed out that the Switzerland race contained some of the top contenders for the Tour and was therefore the best reference point for July.

Armstrong will now reconnoitre some of the mountain stages for the Tour in the Alps and the Pyrenees.