Alexander the great, but Lance still best

WITH the Alps now behind him, Lance Armstrong remains in command of the Tour de France after yesterday’s 11th stage honours went to Alexander Vinokourov of Kazakhstan.

Vinokourov, who finished third overall behind Armstrong and Jan Ullrich of Germany in 2003, pipped fellow escapee Santiago Botero of Colombia to win the stage after a 172km ride from Courchevel to Briancon.

Armstrong came in 1minute 15seconds behind in a group of riders and did not contest the sprint that saw France's Christophe Moreau take third place on the day.