Tour's 16th stage begins with Armstrong nearing seventh title

Jul 19, 2005, 12:41 GMT

Mourenx, France - The 16th stage of the 2005 Tour de France got underway Tuesday in the town of Mourenx with American Lance Armstrong looking like a very good bet to win his seventh consecutive title.

The stage covers 180.5 kilometres from Moulenx to Pau and includes the last serious climbs of this year's Tour, and possibly the last chance for a serious attack on the American.

The riders will have to climb over the Marie Blanque Pass, which is rated first category in difficulty, and then the Aubisque Pass, an ascent of 16.5 kilometres at an average grade of 7.2 per cent that is rated beyond category, or the most difficult.

In the overall standings, Armstrong leads Italian Ivan Basso by 2:46 minutes, with the surprising Dane Mickael Rasmussen in third place, 3:09 adrift.

It appears that only illness or injury can prevent the 33-year-old American from winning his seventh Tour title and thereby closing out his racing career on a triumphant note.

However, if the battle for the Tour winner's yellow jersey appears over, and Rasmussen looks to have a lock on the climbing title, the race for the sprinter's championship remains open.

In that contest, Norwegian Thor Hushovd leads Stuart O'Grady of Australia by 14 points, with defending Tour sprint champion Robbie McEwen, another Australian, 22 points adrift.

Of the 189 riders who began the Tour on July 2, 158 remained in the race on Tuesday. The Tour de France ends July 24 in Paris.