Leader Simply Coasts Along

Lance Armstrong doesn’t have a rider threatening to cut into his lead in the final two stages of the Tour de France.

He likes it that way.

Armstrong finished 24th in Friday’s 18th stage, 11 minutes 42 seconds behind winner Thor Hushovd. The Texan maintained his 5:06 lead over Joseba Beloki and is a virtual lock to win his fourth consecutive Tour de France.

After saying Thursday he is sleeping well thanks to his large lead, Armstrong cruised Friday and wants to augment his lead in today’s individual time trial from Regnie-Durette to Macon.

“I want to show the value of the yellow jersey,” Armstrong said.

Hushovd won the 109.4-mile stretch from Cluses to Bourg-en-Bresse in central France in 4:28.28. He crossed the line just ahead of Christophe Mengin, credited with the same time.

Hushovd, who rides for Credit Agricole, won his first stage in the Tour de France.

He struggled to finish the second leg earlier this month after a severe leg cramp. He had to have his leg massaged by the trainer during the stage.

Australian rider Robbie McEwen finished at the front of the main pack and moved a point ahead of Germany’s Erik Zabel in the standings for best sprinter.

Sunday’s final stage from Melun, outside Paris, to the Champs-Elysees should be little more than a victory lap for the 30-year-old Armstrong.

Last year, Armstrong finished 6:44 ahead of Jan Ullrich of Germany. He could top that by winning the time trial and completing what many consider his easiest victory.

“The team has made it easier for me,” Armstrong said. “To have guys always there in multiples, that makes life a lot easier.”

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Armstrong said Friday that he doesn’t care about the French doping probe of his U.S. Postal Service team anymore, calling it “a joke from the beginning.”

“Immediately they [French judicial officials] knew the evidence was clean, but they kept the case open,” he said. “It’s not an issue anymore, they can keep it open, there’s nothing there.”

Armstrong has been heckled by fans shouting “Dop-AY! Dop-AY!” (“Doped! Doped!”), but French judicial officials recently said the investigation into the Postal Service team launched in the fall of 2000 has revealed no evidence of wrongdoing.

The probe began after a French TV crew filmed U.S. Postal officials disposing of medical waste far from the team hotel.

French officials expect the investigation to close by the end of the summer.

The 30-year-old Armstrong has never failed a drug test and denies taking banned substances. If he wins this year, he plans to try for a record-tying fifth Tour de France title next year.

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Highlights from the 18th stage of the Tour de France:

* Stage: A hilly 109.4-mile trek from Cluses to Bourg-en-Bresse.

* Winner: Norway’s Thor Hushovd in 4 hours 28 minutes 28 seconds.

* How others fared: Three-time champion Lance Armstrong retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey despite finishing the stage in 24th place, 11:42 behind Hushovd. Armstrong’s lead over his nearest rival, Spain’s Joseba Beloki, was unchanged at 5:06.

* Quote of the day: “I want to show the value of the yellow jersey.” Armstrong on his plans to shine in today’s time trial.

* Next stage: Today’s stage is a 31-mile individual time trial from Regnie-Durette to Macon.