Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 50

6D FLORIDA TODAY, Monday, July 28, 2003 Tour De France Americans celebrate Armstrong, but not many watched him mil in i "Hi 1 w' ip i i ii bi i iny iiKniinjMP wunupiiiii j-bp in i 1 A lv mm) I aXk AP Lance Armstrong, center, winner of the Tour de France, holds up Jan Ullrich, left, and third-place finisher Alexander Vinokourov. the hands of second-place winner Lance prevails again Lance, From ID He was about to join Spanish legend Miguel Indurain as the only champion to string all five of his wins together. But getting back on his bike right after the Tour and resuming the maniacal work schedule that left rivals always riding in his slipstream was anything but a given. "This Tour took a lot out of me," Armstrong said. "I need to step back from cycling and from the races and relax a little bit and focus on 2004 in due time." By then he will be racing against history, and you can be sure it won't cut him much slack.

For all his seeming dominance, the real edge between the Tour champion and the pack is as narrow as the tires they ride on at speeds up to 65 mph down the side of a mountain. "When you think you're unbeatable, the first defeat is just devastating. You think you can come back. You tell yourself as much. But you're just buying time.

That first defeat changes you forever," Greg LeMond, a three-time Tour winner and the first American to capture the race, wrote recently. It did with LeMond and Indurain and Eddy Merckx, the Belgian and five-time winner who devoured the competition with such fierceness he was nicknamed "The Cannibal." Each finally was humbled in the mountains the year after their final win, none so memorably as Merckx, who ran out of gas and was passed by eventual winner Bernard Thevenet on the final climb up the Alps to Pra-Loup in 1975. "I tried everything and it didn't work," Merckx said of that day. "Miracles don't exist in sports. It's always the strongest who wins." For now, that is Armstrong.

Like Indurain and Frenchman Bernard Hinault, he is that rare champion who can chew up the field in flat races, or up and down mountains. And while he claimed only one stage win this time, and the margin of victory was his narrowest ever 61 seconds better than five-time runner-up Jan Ullrich Armstrong still bettered his own record for average speed by a half-second, to 25.383 mph. thing. Turn it on at any given moment, and the eventual champion may be riding in 27th place. The guy in front may be merely a footnote in the overall standings.

A Milwaukee Brewer with spokes. There were 20 stages this year. Armstrong won only one of them. The race goes up and down for three weeks, passing sites whose past competitions have made them famous, but not over here. The moment of truth often comes not at Yankee Stadium or Madison Square Garden, but l'Alpe d'Huez.

So the event simply flows past a lot of American minds, not entirely understood. Until Lance Armstrong happened by, Luxembourg had produced more titles than the U.S. But there is nothing obscure about the man, nor the tale that keeps rolling on. This victory was no ride in the park. This one had to be fought for, clawed for, bled for.

Maybe being vulnerable will make him even more renowned in his own country. We always seem interested in seeing a dynasty squirm. He fell twice, including the time a spectator's bag hooked his handlebars. Think the World Series has a moment like that? The favorite nearly wiped out by a kid's backpack? Lots of things went wrong. Equipment problems.

Armstrong ran out of water in the heat. Lost nearly 13 pounds one day. Once, he had to take off slogging across grass to get around a wreck. Sometimes he seemed tired and beatable. But there he is again, sipping champagne.

We may not understand exactly how he got there, but one thing Americans can do is count trophies. Armstrong's five in a row match Miguel Indurain. But nobody ever has won six in a row. Not in a hundred years of the Tour de France. Do that next year at the age of 32, and he's Cal Ripken.

He's John Wooden. He's Joe DiMaggio. His homeland will be rooting for him, as the celebrated native son he has become. Not that it'll be watching him. Mike Lopresti is a sports columnist for Gannett News Service Where Lance stands How Lance Armstrong's Tour de France resume stacks up against cycling's best: Tour victories: Five in a row from 1999-03, tying the record set by Miguel Indurain of Spain (1991-95).

Three others won five Tours, but not in a row Jacques Anquetil of France (1957, 1961-64), Eddy Merckx of Belgium (1969-72, 1974), and Bernard Hinault of France Stage victories: 16 one each in 1993, 1995, 2000, 2003; four each in 1999, 2001, 2002. His U.S. Postal Service team also won a time trial together this year. Eddy Merckx won a record 34 stages, Bernard Hinault 28 and Anquetil 16. Winning margins: Armstrong beat Alex Zulle of Switzerland by 7 minutes, 37 seconds in 1999, Jan Ullrich of Germany by 6:02 in 2000, Ullrich by 6:44 in 2001 Joseba Beloki of Spain by 7:17 in 2002, and Ullrich by 1 :01 this year.

The largest gap between the winner and runner-up in race history is nearly 3 hours 2:59:21 to be exact set by Maurice Garin of France in the first Tour in 1903. Age: Armstrong will turn 32 in September and plans to compete in the 2004 Tour. Since 1953, seven riders 31 or older have won. The oldest was Firmin Lambot of Belgium, 36 in 1922. Entries: This was Armstrong's ninth Tour de France.

Joop Zoetemelk of the Netherlands raced in the most, 16. doubted he ever would compete at anything more strenuous than poker. In successive years, he rode to crush rumors of doping, and to claim a place among those cyclists whose accomplishments merit comparison with the greatest athletes of all time in any sport Armstrong's training regimen always has been something only a sadist could love. He would go for months in the winter in Europe with just two days off, testing himself in the cold and wet of the mountains, then shift to the Texas heat and ring up heart and aerobic conditioning rates that flirted with the limits of human performance. In the midst of the drug controversy that swirled around him, Armstrong's main sponsor, Nike, played off those numbers with an ad that showed him pedaling furiously down the road.

"What am I on?" Armstrong said in the voice over. Tm on my bike." He'd better be again, and soon. Because holding up six fingers on his way to the victory stand on the Champs-Elysee next year will be tougher than just pulling both hands off the handlebars. Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him atjlitkeap.org that telling birthday.

To remain the strongest, he will have to remain the hungriest. So far, motivation has been Armstrong's strongest suit. When he won the first time in 1999, he still was recovering from a deadly form of testicular cancer. Ringing in his ears was the verdict of doctors who NFL There he is again, up on the winner's podium, as remarkable as ever. The once-a-year superstar, pedaling back into the national conscious each July.

There he is again, the fastest thing on two wheels. Or at least the most relentless. Still beating Germans, Spaniards, Italians, Frenchmen. Still beating rain, heat, the miles, the mountains. Still beating cancer.

There he is again, and again, and again. Even now, do we understand how special this is? Even now, do we know what we have in Lance Armstrong? Probably not. Sunday, officially, made it five successive titles for him in the most meaningful bicycle race on the Mike Lopresti Cycling planet. The only one that counts, to a lot of people. The Tour de France has become his tour de force.

Except who sees him actually doing it? Not many in my neighborhood, nor probably yours. That is one of the bizarre components of an absolutely unique personal story. Armstrong has become a national hero because of one annual event. His is a name bespeaking dominance, worthy to be placed on the same level in these times as Barry Bonds and Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. And yet, it is an event HARDLY ANYBODY WATCHES.

Confess. How many minutes have you ever spent on your living room couch in the company of the Tour de France? For that matter, name the network that was carrying it live the past three weeks. (Outdoor Life Network, which is what, channel 232 on your cable, if you have it at all? Click the remote enough times, and you probably would have found Lance Armstrong between The Cartoon Network and Court TV.) No need to. apologize. The Tour de France is a convoluted Miami Dolphins, gives instructions i oiver recenuy signea a tour-year Wannstedt himself.

"The theme this year is that we don't have to do more. We don't have to practice longer. We don't have to meet longer. But we need to do everything better than what we've done," Wannstedt said. "We need to prepare better.

We need to coach better. We need to play better. Everybody in this organization needs to be better. That's the edge, that's the approach that we're taking." Extra points: The first and second-string defenses were the winners in the team's 2-minute drill. Rookie linebacker Eddie Moore intercepted a Sage Ro-senfels pass, but he hardly got the reception from the fans that Bowens got after he snatched a Jay Fiedler pass that had been batted in the air.

Smith may have missed five practices, but the rookie tackle still figures to get a strong look. Greg Jerman, who has been working at that spot, has been beaten several times in practice. The Dolphins currently have 92 players on the roster, 90 of which are signed. Ten are on NFL Europe exemptions' Miami rookies may sign today St." if" jiff '-i ill 'j i i Mr f. It i "Of course it's possible," Indurain said about another Armstrong win.

"But every year it gets more difficult." Armstrong will be 32 in September, and though racers have won the Tour at that age and beyond, all the five-time winners logged their final victory before Notebook Sehorn was carted off the field about 30 minutes before the end of practice. X-rays revealed a fracture of the fifth metatarsal. Trainer Jim Anderson said Sehorn landed awkwardly on the foot after being pushed from behind. He is expected to miss about 10 weeks. Browns Warren sits: In Berea, Ohio, former University of Florida standout Gerard Warren missed his second consecutive day of practice with a bruised knee.

An MRI showed a bruise, and Warren is being kept out as a precaution, team spokesman Todd Stewart said. Also, fifth-round draft pick Ryan Pontbriand, a long snapper, ended a five-day holdout by agreeing to terms on a five-year deal. Bengals sign picks: In Cincinnati, the Bengals signed cor-nerback Dennis Weathersby and fullback Jeremi Johnson, both fourth-round picks in this year's draft. Vikings ink fourth-rounder: In Mankato, the Vikings signed fourth-round draft pick Onterrio Smith, ending a two-day holdout i Craig Rubadoux.FLORIDA TODAY Brad Johnson, center, of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throws a pass during a recent practice at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista. Bucs QB Johnson has arm soreness Final two ByCarlKotala FLORIDA TODAY DA VIE The contracts have yet to be signed, but it looks like the Miami Dolphins will get their way with their final two rookie holdouts.

Coach Dave Wannstedt and vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said the team has reached tentative agreements with third-round draft picks Wade Smith and Taylor Whitley. The two offensive linemen are expected to be on the field today as the Dolphins resume two-a-day practices. Both contracts are for four years, not the three Smith and Whitley's agents were seeking. Wide receive J.R. Tolver, who also wanted a three-year deal, signed a four-year contract that came with a reported $116,000 signing bonus.

Although it would appear the Dolphins are the clear winner in the contract negotiations, Spiel-man said he didn't see it that way. "A win-win situation is that those kids are in camp and they get the work and get caught up on five practices," Spielman said. "That's a week's worth of practice that we've had in the last three days. They know they've got to come in and get caught up and bust their (butts) to make up for the reps they've missed." The players wanted the three-year deals because it would allow them to test the free-agent waters after their third season, which is the earliest a player can become a restricted free agent. The Dolphins maintained that they needed the longer deals to prorate the signing bonus and fit everything under their $2.78 million rookie pool allotted to them by the NFL.

With none of the final three holdouts even guaranteed a roster spot, the Dolphins seemed to clearly have the upper hand in negotiations. In fart, Tolver said the fear of falling too far behind in what will be a tough wide receiver battle was one of the main reasons he decided to "bite the bullet" and take the four-year deal. "I think the thing that pushed me over the top was the fact that there's guys out here having fun and making plays and competing on the field and I was in the hotel room, watching ESPN," Tolver said. "I had (d get back out here. Dave Wannstedt, coach of the uui iy pic.iii;e ounuay in uavie.

Miami Dolphins Notebook That's what pushed me over the top." Different approach: Wannstedt has made several changes in the Dolphins practice setup, including holding die walk through in the morning when the temperatures are cooler. One big change, however, has been no full-speed tackling in the team drills during the first week. The idea is to keep the players, like running back Ricky Williams, fresher for the season. "Ricky doesn't need to be tackled in a drill out here," Wannstedt said. "Zach (Thomas) knocked him down three times (Sunday) and Tim Bowens (did it) once, so we're getting them plenty of the physical work." Team theme: Dolphins players are walking around the locker room with T-shirts that say "Better" on top with the words "If up to me in 2003" sandwiched underneath the team's logo.

The motto for the shirts tajmes from AP to rookie wide reciever J.R. Tolver contract with the Dolphins. Camp confidential Sunday's crowd: 3,147, the largest of training camp. Notable plays: Tight end Randy McMichael made an impressive catch over the middle, turning and reaching over safety Arturo Freeman for the reception during the team's 2-minute drill. Defensively, cor-nerback Jamar Fletcher knocked the ball away from wide receiver Kendall Newson in the end zone, moments after Derrius Thompson beat Patrick Surtain on a similar play.

Injuries: Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye (knee) and wide receiver James Mcknight (stinger) did not practice. Quote of the day: "I didn't get what I wanted exactly, but I got a chance to come in here and compete, and that's the important thing." Rookie wide receiver J.R. Tolver, who ended his holdout by signing a four-year contract instead of the three-year deal he wanted. Coming Tuesday: A look at one of the biggest camp battles veteran playmaker Sammy Knight vs. young incumbent Freeman.

Associated Press LAKE BUENA VISTA Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson didn't participate in any passing drills during two training camp sessions Sunday because of a sore arm. Johnson suited up for both practices, but didn't throw any passes. Backups Shaun King and Chris Simms did all the throwing during Sunday's drills. "Brad's arm is getting a little weary," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "We're going to keep a close on eye on him and look at our young quarterbacks in the meantime." Johnson left the field without comment Fellow starters Keenan McCar-dell (hamstring) and Ronde Barber (knee), plus backup linebacker Justin Smith (hamstring) didn't participate at all Sunday, but none of those injuries were considered serious.

Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson and tight end Todd Yoder both suffered from dehydration and left the morning workout early. Johnson was able to practice in the afternoon; Yoder was not. Sehorn out: In Macomb, St. Louis Rams free safety Jason Sehorn broke his left foot during practice and is expected to be out uni October..