CHALLANS, France, July 1 - Tour de France director
Jean-Marie Leblanc, who will retire in 2006, paid homage to
Lance Armstrong but said he would have liked him to be "closer
to the people".
"I would have liked him to be more available, closer to the
people," Leblanc said of the American whose record six Tour wins
in a row marked his long term at the helm of cycling's showcase
race.
"Maybe the suspicions that have sometimes been uttered
against him in France played a part in the distance he kept with
the crowds as he was always very open and friendly to me."
Armstrong, who began his remarkable winning streak after
recovering from testicular cancer, has not been immune to the
suspicions of doping that constantly surround cycling but has
categorically denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs.
"Or perhaps it's the price to pay for his formidable talent.
He has been a totally dedicated champion, almost monomaniac in
his approach of the Tour. He has been a super winning machine,"
said Leblanc.
Leblanc's 17 years in charge of the race coincided with the
reigns of two of cycling's greatest riders, Armstrong and
Spaniard Miguel Indurain, the first man to win the Tour five
times in succession between 1990 and 1995.
"There are two kinds of Tours de France. Some are tight and
undecided until the end and others are dominated by the same
rider. The first sort are thrilling and the second sort are
fascinating," he said.
Leblanc is gradually handing over some of his tasks to
former journalist Christian Prudhomme, who will take over the
sports operation on this Tour while Leblanc looks after public
relations.
"Christian was on the Tour last year to learn. Now he will
be the man with the flag at the start of stages and the man at
the front of the race," said Leblanc, who will definitely step
down at the end of next year's Tour.