SALLANCHES, France (AP) – Lance Armstrong finished fourth overall in the Dauphine Libere, a Tour de France tuneup won Sunday by Spain’s Inigo Landaluze for his first professional victory.
Colombia’s Santiago Botero was second overall, followed by U.S. rider Levi Leipheimer.
Armstrong, preparing for a bid at a seventh straight Tour de France title next month, was third in the final stage. Discovery Channel teammate George Hincapie won the seventh stage, leading a 1-2-3 finish for the squad.
The Texan was not intending to win the race, more to get some mileage on the bike and some rhythm in his legs for next month’s Tour de France – where he will attempt a seventh win before retiring.
He secured three third-place finishes and a fourth up his least favorite mountain. The results suggest he is not out of shape, but not at his best either.
“B plus for the whole week?” Maybe that’s a little generous,” Armstrong said. “I wasn’t explosive and wasn’t able to make the selection, only to follow. But I know from here I can step up another level.”
George Hincapie won Sunday’s seventh and final stage of the race, with Armstrong third and Landaluze 12th.
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