TOUR DE FRANCE Armstrong prepares for mountain ascent

The American is looking forward to the tough climbs.
FIGEAC, France (AP) -- The Pyrenees will be merciless and test Tour de France title contenders. Lance Armstrong wouldn't want it any other way.
Many will suffer up the tortuous roads, but five-time champion Armstrong is relishing the prospect.
"I love it," he said. "I'm excited."
The Texan finished a comfortable ninth in the chasing pack Thursday in the 11th stage, won by Frenchman David Moncoutie. Armstrong's main rival, 1997 winner Jan Ullrich, cruised in close behind in 13th.
Overall leader Thomas Voeckler is the race's surprise package but his advantage over Armstrong -- 9 minutes, 35 seconds -- might wilt as racers head through the Pyrenees toward the punishing Alps.
Rivalry to build
Ullrich has been waiting to pounce on Armstrong, bidding for a record sixth straight victory. The Pyrenees offer the German a chance to test his nemesis.
"I'm looking forward to it," said Ullrich, a five-time runner-up.
Armstrong has looked marginally the better rider, taking a 55-second advantage over Ullrich into today's 122.7-mile route from Castelsarrasin to La Mongie. It features two huge category 1 climbs -- one short of the hardest rating -- close to the finish.
Saturday's 13th stage is a mammoth 127.7-mile route from Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille that could split the field open.
"It's very nasty," said Armstrong, reflecting on two category 1 climbs close together at the stage's midpoint and the final ascent to the finish: so tough it does not have a grading.
"I think they should take it out," he said jokingly. "It's a violation of our human rights."
Armstrong, the U.S. Postal Service team leader, knows his fragile lead over T-Mobile chief Ullrich can quickly slip away.
In last year's race, where he beat Ullrich by a slender 61 seconds, Armstrong complained of cyclists putting aside team tactics to gang up on him in the mountains.
Challengers
Along with Ullrich, the Texan faces stern competition from Spaniard Iban Mayo. Considered a major threat until a crash hampered his title bid early in the race, he has nothing to lose. The Pyrenees offer Mayo a chance to delight local fans and lay claim as the best mountain climber.
"He'll attack in the Pyrenees for sure. At least, I hope so," Armstrong said. "He'll attack [today] because La Mongie is closer to the Basque country than France. The trees and the landscape will be green, but the road will be all orange."
Armstrong loves a scrap. On the bike, at least.
He needs to stay tough mentally amid renewed, possibly distracting doping allegations against him and intrusive behavior from what he calls the "scandalous" French media.
The cancer survivor claimed Thursday that a French television crew, apparently hoping to uncover eventual signs of doping, attempted to get access to his room after he left to race in the 102-mile trek from Saint-Flour to Figeac in central France.