1999-00 Season Recap
Tour deux Lance
Anyone who thought that Lance Armstrong was a fluke, a one-hit wonder, a flash in the pan or whatever, had to reevaluate in 2000. The man who beat cancer and the rest of the field at the 1999 Tour de France was back to defend his surprising title in 2000. This time cycling stars, including former winners Jan Ullrich and Marco Pantani, were competing unlike 1999.
“Armstrong is a worthy champion. He was the strongest man, and he met our every attack. He earned his victory,” said Ullrich, who won the Tour de France in 1997 and had publicly questioned Armstrong's unofficial title of world's best cyclist following his win a year ago.
Like 1999, Armstrong, only the second American to win the Tour de France, made his move in the Pyrenees and kept the leader's yellow jersey from the mountains on to the finish line in Paris. With his win in 2000, Armstrong also became on the 11th rider to repeat in the Tour, the world's greatest cycling event.
“It was more emotional this time than it was last year, believe it or not,” said Armstrong. “It's a sweeter victory.”
Although he struggled somewhat in the mountainous stage 15, losing nearly two minutes to Ullrich, the second place rider, his final time was 92 hours, 33 minutes and 8 seconds and he finished six minutes, 2 seconds ahead of second place finisher Ullrich of Germany.
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