LE GRAND BORNAND France (Reuters) ...Lance Armstrong had another hard day on the saddle on Wednesday yet the American was convinced he could still snatch the runner-up spot on the Tour de France.
The seven-times Tour champion could not follow the Schleck brothers or Astana team mate Alberto Contador in the demanding ascent to the Col de Romme and dropped from second to fourth overall in the standings.
When the road turned skyward and Frank Schleck attacked, the 37-year-old Texan could not keep pace.
"I could not find my acceleration to go with the other guys," Armstrong, on his comeback Tour four years after his last triumph, told reporters.
The American was then in a small chasing group but team tactics prevented him from stepping up a gear -- such a move could have brought back Garmin-Slipstream rival Bradley Wiggins of Britain in contention.
"I was here stuck with Wiggins. I just could not go, I had to wait until it got steeper when I could definitely pull away."
He did so, but never managed to fully close the gap, finishing the stage in fifth place, 2:18 off the pace.
Armstrong, who conceded his defeat when Contador won in Verbier last Sunday, is still focused on second place in Paris.
"Yes, that's still my goal," he said. "I think it's possible."
Thursday's 40.5-km time trial around Annecy could help him move up into the top three as the Schleck brothers have never been impressive in the solo effort against the clock.
"That's not their strong point. They are good climbers and there is a slight uphill on the course so maybe that works for them," he said.
Saturday's showdown up Mont Ventoux could provide Armstrong with another opportunity to beat the Luxembourg brothers.
"We still have two big days, the time trial and the Ventoux. That will shake things up for everybody."
The Texan, on his comeback Tour four years after his last triumph, trails Contador by three minutes 55 seconds heading to Thursday's time trial -- quite an unusual position for a rider who dominated the Tour from 1999 to 2005.
It's different but I would not say it's strange, he said.
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