Botero storms to victory over Armstrong

SANTIAGO BOTERO reaped the harvest of months spent training in the Colombian mountains to beat Lance Armstrong into second place in yesterday's Tour de France time-trial.

After a mediocre 2001, the Kelme rider went back to his roots in the off-season, spending his days slogging up the mountains of his homeland in the company of local riders.

And he marked his return from temporary exile with a powerful ride which swept him to fifth in the general classification, one minute, 29 seconds behind Armstrong.