The Frame
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July 11, 2010
First week of the Tour de France
MORZINE, France (AP) -- Close the book on the Lance Armstrong era at the Tour de France. He has. The record seven-time champion wrote off his chances of victory in his 13th and last Tour, signaling the beginning of the end of one of the most celebrated and controversial careers in cycling history. The 38-year-old Texan's hopes for yet another title were dashed Sunday after he got caught in three crashes -- one of which brought him down -- and struggled to keep up during two tough climbs in Stage 8, the race's first foray into the Alps. He and his team said his hip got banged up, keeping him from pedaling hard. The stage was won by 25-year-old Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, and Armstrong finished nearly 12 minutes back, in 61st place. World champion Cadel Evans of Australia took the yellow jersey by finishing 10 seconds behind Schleck, but well ahead of overnight leader Sylvain Chavanel of France. (38 images)

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New overall leader Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland heads down the ramp to win the prologue of the Tour de France cycling race, an individual time trial over 8.9 kilometers (5.5 miles) in the port city of Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday July 3, 2010. AP / Christophe Ena


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A bicycle reflects in the rain-covered windshield of a team car during the prologue of the Tour de France cycling race, an individual time trial over 8.9 kilometers (5.5 miles) in the port city of Rotterdam, Netherlands, Saturday July 3, 2010. AP / Christophe Ena



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Two-times Tour de France winner Spain's Alberto Contador rides on July 4, 2010 in the 203,5 km and first stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Brussels (Belgium). AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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Japanese fan, Matsuda Chihiro (L), takes a picture on July 4, 2010 in Rotterdam before the start of the 223,5 km and first stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Brussels (Belgium). AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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The pack rides past a windmill and fans on July 4, 2010, during the 223,5 km and first stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Brussels (Belgium). AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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Juan Jose Oroz of Euskaltel-Euskadi is seen after a crash along stage 2 of the Tour de France July 5, 2010 in Spa, Belgium. The 201km route with six categorised climbs travels from Brussels to the city of Spa. France's Sylvain Chavanel won the second stage, taking the overall leader's yellow jersey from Fabian Cancellara. The iconic bicycle race will include a total of 20 stages and will cover 3,642km before concluding in Paris on July 25. Getty Images / Spencer Platt



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American cyclist Christian VandeVelde, 34, of team Garmin-Transitions is seen after a crash along stage 2 of the Tour de France July 5, 2010 in Spa, Belgium. Getty Images / Spencer Platt



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Cyclists turn a corner along stage 2 of the Tour de France July 5, 2010 in Spa, Belgium. Getty Images / Spencer Platt



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Riders make their way along the route of stage 2 of the Tour de France July 5, 2010 in Brussels, Belgium. Getty Images / Spencer Platt



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The pack with Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, right, passes a village near Brussels during the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 201 kilometers (125 miles) with start in Brussels and finish in Spa, Belgium, Monday July 5, 2010. AP / Christophe Ena



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The pack rides during the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 201 kilometers (125 miles) with start in Brussels and finish in Spa, Belgium, Monday July 5, 2010. AP / Christophe Ena



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Fans dressed in white wait for the riders on the roadside on July 5, 2010 in the 201 km and second stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Brussels and Spa. AFP / Getty Images / Lionel Bonaventure



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Yellow jersey of Overall Leader Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara (C) asks the riders not to sprint to support the riders who crashed during the race in the 201 km and second stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Brussels and Spa on July 5, 2010 in Spa. AFP / Getty Images / Pascal Pavani



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The pack rides on July 5, 2010 in the start of the 201 km and second stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Brussels and Spa. AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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The peloton makes its way under a bridge during stage three of the 2010 Tour de France from Wanze to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut on July 6, 2010 in Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, France. Getty Images / Bryn Lennon



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Luxembourg's Andy Schleck (L) starts riding after changing his tire on July 5, 2010 in the 201 km and second stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Brussels and Spa. AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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Norway's Thor Hushovd (R) celebrates on the finish line as he wins the 213 km and third stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Wanze and Arenberg, northern France, on July 6, 2010 in Arenberg. AFP / Getty Images / Lionel Bonaventure



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A bystander tends to Frank Schleck of Luxembourg after he crashed when riding on a cobblestone section during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 213 kilometers (132.4 miles) with start in Wanze, Belgium and finish in Arenberg, France, Tuesday July 6, 2010. AP / Fred Mons



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The pack passes a cobblestone section during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 213 kilometers (132.4 miles) with start in Wanze, Belgium and finish in Arenberg, France, Tuesday July 6, 2010. AP / Christophe Ena



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Lance Armstrong of the US rides on a cobblestone section during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 213 kilometers (132.4 miles) with start in Wanze, Belgium and finish in Arenberg, France, Tuesday July 6, 2010. AP / Joel Saget



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The peloton passes along the 153.5km course in stage four of the Tour de France on July 7, 2010 in Reims, France. A relatively flat stage, the route featured only one category four climb. Italian Alessandro Petacchi with the Lampre team won the stage in a sprint finish. Getty Images / Spencer Platt



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Italy's Alessandro Petacchi (R) sprints on the finish line on July 7, 2010 in Reims, Eastern France as he wins the 153,5 km and fourth stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Cambrai and Reims. AFP / Getty Images / Pascal Pavani



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The peloton rides through the French countryside during stage five of the 2010 Tour de France from Epernay to Montargis on July 8, 2010 in Montargis, France. Getty Images / Bryn Lennon



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The pack rides past vineyards during the 187,5 km and fifth stage of the 187,5 km and fifth stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Epernay, Eastern France, and Montargis, center France, on July 8, 2010. AFP / Getty Images / Lionel Bonaventure



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Brtitain's Mark Cavendish cries on the podium after winning the 187.5 km and fifth stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Epernay, Eastern France, and Montargis, center France, on July 8, 2010. AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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The pack rides past sunflowers during the 187.5 km and fifth stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Epernay, Eastern France, and Montargis, center France, on July 8, 2010. AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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Jean-Pierre Caloini (R), aka Le Frelon (the hornet) waves to the pack on July 9, 2010 in the 227,5 km and 6th stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Montargis and Gueugnon, center France. AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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A young girl chases the peloton along the 227.5km route from Montargis to Gueugnon in stage six of the Tour de France July 9, 2010 in Gueugnon, France. Getty Images / Spencer Platt



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US rider Lance Armstrong (R) rides with Spain's Alberto Contador on July 9, 2010 in the 227.5 km and 6th stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Montargis and Gueugnon, center France. AFP / Getty Images / Pascal Pavani



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US rider Lance Armstrong rides on July 10, 2010 in the 165.5 km and 7th stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Tournus and Les Rousses ski resort. AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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The pack speeds downhill during the seventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 165.5 kilometers (102.8 miles) with start in Tournus and finish in Station des Rousses, France, Saturday, July 10, 2010. AP / Bas Czerwinski



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A Quick Step cycling team staff member sprays France's Sylvain Chavanel with water as he rides in a breakaway before winning on July 10, 2010 the 165.5 km and 7th stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Tournus and Les Rousses ski resort. AFP / Getty Images / Lionel Bonaventure



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Fans cheer on the pack ridding on July 11, 2010 in the 189 km and 8th stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Les Rousses and Morzine Avoriaz ski resort. AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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New yellow jersey of overall leader, Australia's Cadel Evans (C), who just crashed, looks at his bloody leg as he rides on July 11, 2010 in the 189 km and 8th stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Les Rousses and Morzine Avoriaz ski resort. AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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Tour de France seven-times winner, US Lance Armstrong (2ndR), looks at riders after they crashed, Spain's Ivan Velasco (down), Spain's Egoi Martinez (R) on July 11, 2010 in the 189 km and 8th stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Les Rousses and Morzine Avoriaz ski resort. AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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New yellow jersey of overall leader, Australia's Cadel Evans (L), rides with winner of the stage, Luxembourg's Andy Schleck (C) and Spain's Alberto Contador (R) on July 11, 2010 in the 189 km and 8th stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Les Rousses and Morzine Avoriaz ski resort. AFP / Getty Images / Lionel Bonaventure



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Luxembourg's Andy Schleck celebrates on the finish line as he wins on July 11, 2010 the 189 km and 8th stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Les Rousses and Morzine Avoriaz ski resort. AFP / Getty Images / Lionel Bonaventure



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The jersey of Tour de France seven-times winner, US Lance Armstrong after he crashed on July 11, 2010 in the 189 km and 8th stage of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race run between Les Rousses and Morzine Avoriaz ski resort. AFP / Getty Images / Joel Saget



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