PARIS, 5 July 2003 — Spaniard Joseba Beloki has made it on to the podium on each of his three previous appearances in the Tour de France and is hoping that champion Lance Armstrong falters this time round so that he can seize his chance at last.

“Any rider can be beaten. His (Armstrong’s) reign is bound to stop one day,” the ONCE team leader told a news conference in Paris yesterday. “I was the closest to beating him last year so I hope to be able to seize the opportunity the day his reign ends,” Beloki added. American Armstrong is aiming for a record-equaling fifth consecutive victory in the Tour which starts today.

Beloki who was third in 2000 and 2001 and second last year, has been criticized for his team’s cautious approach to the race but said this would change.

“The time has come to make more risks and go for victory,” he said. “I’ve been third, second, I hope this time will be the one.”

But the Basque rider said he would be content just to give it his best shot. “My main goal is to give it my all and to fight as best as I can. You cannot be disappointed by your place if you did your best,” he said.

The 29-year-old said his preparation for the race had been the same as last year despite the absence of team mate and closest aide Igor Gonzalez Galdeano.

“He will be dearly missed by the whole team and especially by me. He’s an essential part of the team. I usually train with him for the Tour so I’ve missed him already,” he said. Fifth last year, Gonzalez Galdeano was banned from competing in France after failing a dope test for corticoids. The Spaniard was cleared by the International Cycling Union (UCI) but not by French anti-doping authorities, whose rules are tougher.

“The young ones are here to take over from Igor,” said Beloki, singling out Portuguese Jose Azevedo, sixth last year, as his main ally in the mountains. “He’s the one I hope will stay closer to me. He’s the team’s undisputed No. 2,” he said.

Beloki did not rule out the possibility of the rival Spanish teams uniting in an attempt to beat Armstrong. Fassa Bortolo leader Aitor Gonzalez and Euskaltel’s Iban Mayo are both contenders for the Tour.

“A Spanish coalition is a possibility but Armstrong is strong enough to go after each one of us and a coalition would not necessarily be against him only,” said Beloki.

He added there were other riders capable of winning the centenary race. “A lot of riders can do well — Jan Ullrich, Gilberto Simoni, Ivan Basso or Tyler Hamilton. But Armstrong remains the man to beat while you can never rule out for a complete unknown to appear like myself in 2000.”

Armstrong Aims

to Disappoint Rivals

Armstrong, meanwhile, says whether he wins or loses this year’s Tour he plans to disappoint his rivals — by coming back in 2004. The 31-year-old Texan is aiming for a fifth consecutive yellow jersey in this year’s centenary race which starts today.

But he does not take victory for granted. “You never get anything free in sport,” he told the Le Parisien daily in an interview on the eve of the race.

“And I’m not as young and consequently not as strong as I was. Other riders have worked hard.

Lots of guys can win.” But he will not quit if he fails to join Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, Belgian Eddy Merckx and Spain’s Miguel Indurain as a five-time winner.

“I love this sport and if I’m fit and healthy I can’t see why I wouldn’t race again,” he said.

He rates Italian Gilberto Simoni, Spaniard Beloki and fellow American Tyler Hamilton, a former lieutenant of Armstrong’s at US Postal who is now riding for Danish outfit CSC, as his biggest rivals.

Simoni won this year’s Giro d’Italia and is convinced he can beat Armstrong in the mountain climbs. And he makes no secret of his dislike for the American.

“Armstrong is one of those rich sportsmen who don’t have to compete in the major races,” he said.

Armstrong, like Indurain, concentrates almost exclusively on the Tour, riding a series of well-prepared trials to get ready for the big event.

But he sees nothing wrong in it. “The greatest respect you can show France is by working as hard as possible to try to win the Tour,” said the man who beat testicular cancer to climb to the top of his sport.