Published Wed, Jul 14 10 08:55 AM
The 179-km 10th stage of the Tour de France will evoke memories for Lance Armstrong when the race reaches Gap on Wednesday.
Seven years ago, on the way to his fifth Tour win, the American was forced to cut through a field to avoid Spaniard Joseba Beloki who had crashed in front of him on the descent of the La Rochette climb.
The peloton will again ride through La Rochette and take a long descent to the finish line in Gap after three climbs, including the first-category Cote de Laffrey.
In 2003, the weather was as hot as it is this year and Armstrong was more agile and had avoided crashes.
"I hope I stay out of the fields. There's no way I can pull that off two times in a row," Armstrong said at the end of the ninth stage in St Jean de Maurienne on Tuesday.
Armstrong's hopes of an eighth Tour win evaporated with a crash on Sunday in the first Alpine stage of this year's race which dropped him down the standings.
The last two stage winners in Gap are still in the race: Alexandre Vinokourov won in 2003 and Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo in 2006.
On Bastille Day, French fans will hope for a victory by a home rider.
Since 1947, 13 French riders have won on July 14, including three in the last decade -- Laurent Jalabert in 2001, Richard Virenque in 2003 and David Moncoutie in 2005.
Luxembourg's Andy Schleck seized the overall lead on Tuesday, 41 seconds ahead of defending champion Alberto Contador, after world champion Cadel Evans, riding with a fractured elbow, fell back.
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