Armstrong Makes His Position in Race--and on Drugs--Clear

PAU, France — American Lance Armstrong put a virtual lock on the Tour de France on Wednesday and indignantly responded to allegations that he has been taking drugs by saying he is using nothing more potent than skin cream.

The sport’s supreme authority, the International Cycling Union, gave the 27-year-old Texan a complete and well-publicized bill of health.

In a series of fiery statements at a news conference after Wednesday’s 16th stage, Armstrong called the accusations, notably in the French daily Le Monde, “vulture journalism and desperate journalism.” In a front-page article Wednesday, Le Monde alleged that small traces of corticosteroids--indicating his use of substances outlawed by the Tour--had been found in Armstrong’s urine.

Armstrong explained that the minute traces of the drug came from a cream he had applied to treat a skin allergy.

“If Le Monde wants to call this a doping story, they’re free to do that. But this is not a doping story,” the U.S. Postal Service team member said.

Amid the allegations, Armstrong retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey after the Tour’s last mountain stage. His performance this year has been described by many as incredible, especially after he recaptured the yellow jersey more than a week ago with two stage wins.

David Etxebarria of Spain won the 120-mile stage that wound through the haze-covered Pyrenees from Lannemezan to Pau, capital of the Bearn region. Carlos Contreras of Colombia finished second and Alberto Elli of Italy third.

The overall rankings changed little, with Fernando Escartin of Spain still 6 minutes 15 seconds behind Armstrong and Alex Zulle of Switzerland in third place--making it practically impossible for any of the cyclists to catch up with the American in the four remaining days of the Tour.

Wednesday’s race was marked by a breakaway of 11 riders during the 6,979-foot climb on the Col du Tourmalet. Near the summit, the number dropped to three, including Etxebarria and Elli, who maintained their lead until, 21.7 miles from the finish, they were joined by a group of eight that included Armstrong.

The allegations of drug use against Armstrong--as well as other cyclists--have placed a cloud of suspicion on a Tour already tainted by last year’s scandals; in the 1998 Tour, cyclists were forced to abandon the race for using substances banned by the cycling union.

But the cycling union made every attempt Wednesday to bring both Armstrong and the 1999 Tour out of the shadow of scandal. “The medical prescription [for the ointment] has been shown to the UCI,” read a statement from the group.

A drug test July 3 proved negative, revealing no traces of corticosteroids, according to the UCI. A test the next day showed “minute traces” of the drug.

“The result of the tests on these two dates unquestionably demonstrate that there was no systematic use,” the statement continued. “Such [topical] use is permitted by the rules, and therefore does not constitute any form of doping.”

Over the past several days, Armstrong had denied taking banned drugs or receiving any medical waivers for them. Confronted with the apparent discrepancy by a reporter from Le Monde during the news conference, Armstrong responded, “Mr. Le Monde, are you calling me a liar or a doper?”

He proceeded to explain, “When I think of ‘taking something,’ I think of pills, inhalers and injections. . . . I didn’t consider a skin cream to be ‘taking something.’ ”

Armstrong returned to pro cycling in 1998 after a life-threatening battle with testicular cancer diagnosed in 1996 that had spread to his lungs and brain. The American said his struggle with cancer taught him to fight on, even in the face of adversity--something he said he has been putting into practice amid the allegations.

“I suffered much more in the Pyrenees than I did in the Alps, mainly due to stress off the bike,” Armstrong said. Those raising questions of drug use “want me to crack on the bike, and I wasn’t going to crack for them.”

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Tour de France at a Glance

* 16th stage: 120 miles from Lannemezan, a small town in the Pyrenees foothills, to Pau, once the home of French King Henri IV.

* Winner: Spain’s David Etxebarria won in 5 hours 17 minutes 7 seconds.

* Others: Carlos Contreras of Colombia was second, Alberto Elli of Italy third. Lance Armstrong of Austin, Texas, was 11th.

* Overall: Armstrong, who lost more than a minute of his overall lead Tuesday to Fernando Escartin, on Wednesday never let the Spaniard out of his sight. The two crossed the finish line one after the other. Armstrong’s lead is 6 minutes 15 seconds.

* Next stage: 125 miles from Mourenx to Bordeaux, today.