Third overall after two daysof the Tour of Luxembourg on Thursday, was satisfied that he is riding strongerbefore the , according to . Giovanni Visconti of Italy won the first stage, while Armstrong stayed upfront in the main pack to finish 50th in the 111.8-mile ride from Luxembourg toHesperange. Armstrong, whose season has been hampered by illness and last month鈥檚 crashon the Tour of California, is using the Tour of Luxembourg as part of hispreparations for the Tour de France. He will compete in the Tour of Switzerlandto make up for the racing days he missed this year.
–Stayton Bonner