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Armstrong withstands T-Mobile bid
GERARDMER, France -- Lance Armstrong held on to the race leader's yellow jersey in the face of repeated attacks by Jan Ullrich's T-Mobile squad as the riders contested the first major climbs of this year's Tour de France. Dutchman Pieter Weening beat T-Mobile's Andreas Kloden in a desperately close sprint for victory on stage eight, But six-times winner Armstrong was left exposed as his Discovery Channel team-mates were shelled out the back and forecast 'big trouble' ahead. He leads by a minute from CSC's Jens Voigt with Kazakh dangerman Alexandre Vinokourov two seconds further adrift. Armstrong, who is bidding for a record seventh Tour title before retiring, later suggested his team-mates were over-confident. Speaking after he was left alone to face a series of attacks by T-Mobile dangermen, the Texan said: "There was definitely a crisis within our team in the final climb. "We need to revaluate our position in the race, and try not let it happen again." He added: "If it's two more weeks of days like today, we'll be in big trouble." Ulrrich, who traiils by one minute 36 seconds overall, will be heartened by the performance of his team-mates, led by Kloden, third last year, who rode strongly on the final climb of the day. The German burst clear on the Col de la Schlucht in the Vosges mountains, to bridge the gap to Weening, who had been prominent in attacks throughout the day. Weening eventually crossed the line a few centimeters ahead of Kloeden and the photo finish was needed to determine the winner. "I didn't even know I'd won," said a delighted Weening, who had shown his determination throughout the day by getting involved in an early breakaway before attacking at the start of the day's last climb. "I felt really strong, that's why I wanted to attack. There was no point in me wating for the guys behind me to do it. The pack featuring the main favorites crossed the line 27 seconds back, with Spaniard Alejandro Valverde winning the sprint for third place. On the first real climbing day of the race, however, Vinokourov gave a glimpse of what could be in store for Armstrong in the coming days. The 31-year-old, who placed third overall in 2003 but missed the race through injury last year, attacked on the second cateogry climb in a bid to drop Armstrong, or at least see how the American would react to an attack. Armstrong responded immediately, and moments later Vinokourov was back in the group. Ullrich, Roberto Heras (Liberty), Valverde (Baleares) and Brad McGee of the Francaise des Jeux team were all there, and shortly after Vinokourov had been brought back his T-Mobile teammate Kloden decided to go in search of stage leader Weening. 
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