Texan now nicknamed 'the boss' after easy victory

LANCE ARMSTRONG won his fourth Tour de France yesterday and his victory was so commanding that he earned a nickname from the bunch - the boss.

For three weeks and 3,900 kilometres, the American, now member of an exclusive group of five riders to have won cycling’s showcase race four times, dictated the rules to his rivals and was never in any serious trouble.

The Texan, who returned to the sport from a near-fatal cancer to win his first Tour in 1999, was so strong this year that he even announced his tactics to his opponents beforehand.