TOUR DE FRANCE U.S. Postal awaits mountains ahead

Four-time champion Lance Armstrong is in position to make his move.
NEVERS, France (AP) -- All is quiet on the U.S. Postal front.
That's good.
No accidents, no drama, no effort wasted and, significantly, four-time champion Lance Armstrong is looking fresh, with the menacing mountains looming.
"Fortunately there is nothing to report on a day like this," team spokesman Jogi Muller said. "The team took care of themselves, avoided crashes. It was close to what we had hoped for."
Thursday's fifth stage of the centennial Tour de France featured a relatively docile 121.52-mile route from Troyes to Nevers. It was a far cry from the previous day's team time trial.
The Postals won their first team time trial Wednesday, sparking off mass celebrations in their camp. The smiles were still etched on the riders' faces before they raced Thursday, when the aim was more to shield Armstrong from danger than to go flat out for another victory.
Mission accomplished.
Anonymous Armstrong
Armstrong, looking to tie Spain's Miguel Indurain as the only cyclist to win the event five straight times, crossed the line in 53rd place. Anonymous -- but purposefully so.
As the Texan dismounted his bike, he looked composed and barely out of breath. The sweat flooding off his brow was more due to the sweltering heat than to exertion.
"Lance is in good spirits," Muller said. "But we try to be very cautious and not to get overexcited."
Italy's sprint king, Alessandro Petacchi, won the stage, his third win in five stages, in a time of 4 hours, 9 minutes, 47 seconds. He raced at an average 29 mph in 90-degree heat.
"A sprint is a question of centimeters ... You need just a little problem for it to go badly," he said. "But things are going positively."
Petacchi edged Estonia's Jaan Kirsipuu and Australia's Baden Cooke with an astounding burst of acceleration in the last 200 yards.
Meanwhile, some distance behind, Armstrong cruised over the finish line, flanked by teammates George Hincapie and Pavel Padrnos.
Hincapie said the team's focus is now very much on preparing Armstrong for Saturday's opening mountain stage, a 142.91-mile route from Lyon to Morzine-Avoriaz.
"Lance is one of the best climbers in the world," Hincapie said. "Our main strategy is to keep Lance out of trouble, and let him do the least work possible."
Upcoming challenge
The Alps are a challenge to relish for the likes of Armstrong.
Saturday's climb to the ski resort of Morzine-Avoriaz is the first of three days of alpine ascents. The riders face two mammoth climbs in the last 121/2 miles of the stage.
The Col de la Ramaz, which peaks at 5,342 feet, is followed by a 3,897-foot grind on the Cote des Gets.
"When the field is packed at the start of the race it's really hard. You go through a lot of pain trying to keep up," Cookes said. "Once the pack splits, it's not quite so bad because it's a lot slower."
For sprint specialist Cooke, the mountains are even harder than for someone like Armstrong.
"As a sprinter you're carrying an extra 5 kilograms of muscle. It gets unbearable at times," he said. "You just have to put up with it."
In Thursday's stage, Armstrong's teammate, Colombia's Victor Hugo Pena, celebrated his 29th birthday by retaining the overall leader's yellow jersey.
Angel Vicioso of the ONCE team fell in the dash toward the finish. He completed the race, cradling his left arm in front of him and with a bloodied right knee.
Friday's sixth stage, from Nevers to Lyon, was a 1421/2-mile trek ending in France's second-largest city.