...for the final time.
Because of wet conditions, race organizers stopped the clock as Armstrong and the main pack entered Paris. Although riders were still racing, with eight laps of the Champs-Elysees to complete, organizers said that Armstrong had officially won.
The stage started as it has done for the past six years - with Armstrong wearing the race leader's yellow jersey. It ended the same way, too - with him celebrating, this time by a comfortable margin of more than 4 1/2 minutes.
One hand on his handlebars, the other holding a flute of champagne, Armstrong toasted his teammates as he pedaled into Paris to collect his crown. He held up seven fingers - one for each win - and a piece of paper with the number 7 on it.
When it was over, Armstrong saluted the race he's made his own.
"Vive le Tour, forever," he said.
The stage started as it has done for the past six years - with Armstrong wearing the race leader's yellow jersey. It ended the same way, too - with him celebrating, this time by a comfortable margin of more than 4 1/2 minutes.
One hand on his handlebars, the other holding a flute of champagne, Armstrong toasted his teammates as he pedaled into Paris to collect his crown. He held up seven fingers - one for each win - and a piece of paper with the number 7 on it.
When it was over, Armstrong saluted the race he's made his own.
"Vive le Tour, forever," he said.
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