Boogerd survives to takes Stage 16; Armstrong shows who's boss

The steepest and most difficult mountains of the 2002 Tour de France delivered yet another long breakaway that held out to the end for victory. Rabobank's Michael Boogerd attacked on a descent to win his first Tour stage victory on a summit in Wednesday's 16th stage. The big- toothed Dutch rider held off a late-stage charge by overall leader Lance Armstrong to take what he called the best moment of his professional career.
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Armstrong attacked following steady work by José Luis Rubiera and Roberto Heras, but U.S. Postal Service directeur sportif Johan Bruyneel said it was more an attack on his rivals than an effort to win the stage.

Armstrong widened his margin over second-place Joseba Beloki to 5:06. With four days remaining in the 2002 Tour, Armstrong looks on target to win a fourth consecutive maillot jaune.
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Overall after 16 of 20 stages

1. Lance Armstrong (USA), U.S. Postal, 68:43:22
2. Joseba Beloki (Sp), ONCE, at at 05min 06sec
3. Raimondas Rumsas (Lit), Lampre, at 07:24.
4. Jose Azevedo (Por), ONCE, at 12:08.
5. Igor Gonzalez Galdeano (Sp), ONCE, at 12:12.
6. Francisco Mancebo (Sp), iBanesto.com, at 12:28.
7. Santiago Botero (Col), Kelme, at 12:37.
8. Roberto Heras (Sp), U.S. Postal, at 12:54.
9. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Rabobank, at 13:58.
10. Ivan Basso (I), Fassa Bortolo, at 15:04.

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At the Tour de France: The winners were the Alps and the survivors

Boogerd, the big Dutchman, lost half his lead to Armstrong when the Texan took poured it on up the last pitch. Boogerd still had enough to win, and he came across the line pumping his fists and flashing his teeth -- immortalized.

Armstrong padded his lead as he patted the rider's britches ahead of him as they glided over the line, then rode straight through a crack in the fences to a security envelope behind the big shell stage.

Later, Robbie Hunter, the fair-haired sprinter from South Africa, said, "This wasn't a fun day, that's for sure."

"We are controlling the race and the yellow jersey," said Postal spokesman Yogi Muller, "and that's our goal."
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