France Armstrong - Lance Armstrong wins seventh consecutive and last Tour de France
NAME: FRA ARMSTRONG 240705N
TAPE: EF05/0656
IN_TIME: 10:26:40:13
DURATION: 00:03:45:24
SOURCES: APTN
DATELINE: Paris - 24 July 2005
RESTRICTIONS:
SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot of Champs Elysees with people gathering behind barriers ahead of the arrival of the Tour de France
2. Television screen showing the race
3. Spectators
4. People under umbrellas
5. Television screen showing spectators
6. People watching the television screens
7. People seated in stands
8. Television screen and spectators
9. People clapping as the cyclists arrive
10. Set up shot of Lance Armstrong's mother, Linda Mooneyham
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Linda Mooneyham, Lance Armstrong's mother
"I'm so proud of him. It's just a great deal of sacrifices that he makes for this type of race, and this will be the last time that he does this, and he looks happy and that's all any mother ever wants for their kids, so..."
12. Various people clapping
13. American cyclist Chris Horner.
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Horner, US cyclist
"I think it's impressive. I mean, it's an incredible ride, it was an incredible seven years for him. I mean, god look at today, four of his team mates crashed right in front of him and he still stays up. I mean, it's incredible, the guy's just unbreakable, he's untouchable, and now he's got seven wins."
15. SOUNDBITE (French) Christophe Morreau, Cyclist
"The myth of the century, and I think it's a real mark of respect to applaud his great performance because seven Tours de Frances the way he has done, hats off to the man."
16. Kazakh cyclist and winner of the final stage, Alexander Vinokourov, with his trophy
17. Spectators
18. Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen, winner of the polka-dot jersey for best climber
19. Podium and zoom in to Lance Armstrong walking onto the podium
20. Spectators clapping
21. Lance Armstrong wearing the yellow jersey with his children
22. Medium shot of photographers
23. SOUNDBITE (English) Lance Armstrong, Tour de France winner
"And finally the last thing I'll say for people who don't believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics, I'm sorry for you, I'm sorry you can't dream big, I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. This is one hell of a race, this is a great sporting event and you should stand around and believe. You should
believe in these athletes and you should believe in these people. I'm a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live and there are no secrets: this is a sporting event and hard work wins it, so Vive le Tour, forever."
24. Spectators clapping
25. Medium shot of Lance Armstrong standing next to second-placed Italian Ivan Basso Germany's Jan Ullrich as the US national anthem
is played
STORYLINE:
Lance Armstrong has won an unprecedented seventh Tour de France race on Sunday, closing the curtain on one of the most extraordinary cycling careers ever.
The American safely crossed the line at the end of the 144.5-kilometre (90-mile) final stage in the Champs Elysees in Paris.
The last climb in his career was to the podium, on which he stood next to second-placed Italian Ivan Basso and the rider he beat most often, Germany's Jan Ullrich.
The most successful Tour de France rider in history looked to the sky as the US national anthem was played for the seventh time in a row.
Armstrong's mother was on hand for the victory, as were his twin daughters.
Grace and Isabelle, aged three, wore yellow dresses - the colour of the race leader's jersey that Armstrong slipped into one last time.
Armstrong looked gaunt, hollow-cheeked and tanned after riding 3,593 kilometres (2,232.7 miles) across France and its mountains over the past three weeks.
He was then handed a microphone and became the first race winner to make a speech from the podium.
"To all the cynics, I'm sorry for you. I'm sorry you can't believe in miracles. This is a great sporting event and hard work wins it," Armstrong said. "Vive le Tour forever."
Points classification winner Thor Hushovd of Norway and Denmark's King of the Mountains Michael Rasmussen brought a Nordic touch to the
Texan's farewell ceremony.
Ukraine's Yaroslav Popovych, the best under-25 rider in the Tour, gave hope to Armstrong's Discovery Channel team mates that the yellow
jersey might stay with them next season.
Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov won the final stage of the race after making a break on the last lap on the Champs Elysees.
Armstrong's final Tour was arguably one of the easiest for him, even if the 33-year-old had to be content with winning only one stage, Saturday's 55.5-kilometre individual time trial in St Etienne.