Lance Armstrong shrugs off latest doping allegations
Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong insists "I sleep like a baby" after denying the ongoing investigation into doping allegations levelled at him by Floyd Landis was behind his poor Tour de France display.
An investigation was initiated by the United States' Food and Drug Administration after Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour title after testing positive for testosterone, accused many of his former team-mates at the United States Postal Service team, including Armstrong, of doping.
Armstrong has never tested positive and strenuously denies all the allegations.
The 38-year-old began the 97th Tour with ambitions of an eighth title but fell out of contention on the opening Alpine stage and following yesterday's first Pyrenean stage lies 39 minutes 44 seconds behind race leader Andy Schleck in 38th place.
Speaking ahead of the 184.5-kilometre 14th stage from Revel to Ax-3-Domaines, Armstrong denied his uncharacteristic bike handling, which again saw him fall on Saturday, is due to the investigation.
"I might be distracted, but I'm not distracted on the things people are speculating I'm distracted on," Armstrong told www.velonews.com.
"I don't have any fear about any of that.
"I know what's gone on in my life.
"Falling over because you are distracted in the race, or talking to people, or thinking about time on the beach in two weeks, that's one thing.
"But if I was distracted about the other stuff, I wouldn't sleep at night.
"And I sleep like a baby."
Armstrong won seven Tour titles between 1999 and 2005 before retiring.
He returned in 2009, finishing third, but announced last month this year's race would be his last.
Although he is out of contention for the overall title, a stage win remains Armstrong's aim.
"I'm going to do my best, but it's not easy," he said.
"I think every rider in the bunch knows I want a stage."
Armstrong has six days of racing remaining to achieve his 26th stage win before he completes his 13th Tour in Paris next Sunday.
