Lance Pushes to the Front

He’s back: Lance Armstrong has pulled past the younger riders to move just short of the lead in the Tour de France. The 37-year-old, seven-time Tour de France winner powered near the head of the pack Thursday afternoon, and begins Friday 0.22 seconds away from the lead as the riders turn into the Pyrenees, the stage of the race that has always been his greatest strength. Lance’s surprising turn has drawn excited crowds along the race course, but also renewed speculation of drug use, charges that have dogged him throughout his career (he has not failed a drug test). When it comes to strategy, Armstrong thinks he’s got it in the bag. “I have won seven of these races,” he said. “I think I know what I’m doing.”