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Armstrong improves to third in Tour de France

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The Associated Press

Published: July 6, 2009

LA GRANDE-MOTTE, France — Britain's Mark Cavendish has won his second straight stage at the Tour de France, while seven-time champion Lance Armstrong has gained ground and is now third overall.

Fabian Cancellara extended his lead to 33 seconds after Monday's third stage.

Cavendish finished in an unofficial time of 5 hours, 1 minute, 24 seconds. Armstrong and 23 other riders had the same time.

Breakaway riders dominated the hot and breezy 122-mile course along the Mediterranean from Marseille to La Grande Motte. The race ends July 26 in Paris.

Armstrong, who came out of retirement to enter this year's Tour, will be fined for failing to sign in before Monday's third stage of the Tour de France.

All riders are required to sign in before every stage. Tour competition director Jean-Francois Pescheux said the seven-time champion would receive the standard fine, equivalent to $92.

"He didn't sign in. ... The rules are clear: If he doesn't sign in, he will be fined," Pescheux said.

Pescheux also criticized Armstrong for not making himself more available to fans.

"We simply asked his team to have a respectful attitude toward the public," he said. "They want to see the team, they have been here since 7 a.m. and they don't see him."

Astana team spokesman Philippe Maertens said Armstrong was held up by signing autographs and doing interviews before the stage.

"It's because he was being so nice to the public that we were late," Maertens said. "It's not that we don't respect the public. ... We always try to sign in as late as possible because it's impossible for the riders to come back to the bus (before the stage) and there are too many people around Lance and (Alberto) Contador."

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