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Death threats and Jeering crowds fail to stop Armstrong. Please post a prayer
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Posted by: JG
Death threats and Jeering crowds fail to stop Lance Armstrong. We must pray for this American. The French and the Germans are out of control. Please post a prayer of protection.
July 23, 2004
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| Crowd spiting on America |
Lance Armstrong cycles through what was possibly the most dangerous crowd the tour has drawn to any climb.
Lance Armstrong said Wednesday's time trial up to L'Alpe D'Huez should not have been held and hoped it would not be repeated. It was very dangerous. There was almost no protections for the riders.
"There were four or five kilometres of people all the time," he said. "I don't know that's a good thing for the Tour de France. I don't think it's safe and we would all agree with that, and the organisers would all agree."
The American Lance Armstrong was spat at, jeered, cursed and insulted by crowding spectators as he stormed to victory over the 15.5-kilometre climbing course round 21 hairpin bends, to put one hand on the big prize he is close to winning for a record sixth time. There have been threats to stop him. Some have said there have been death threats. All over a bicycle race. Let's see now, they don't want us in Iraq but are willing to kill a man for winning a race.
Tour director Jean-Marie Leblanc admitted he'd seen fans spit at Armstrong and agreed with the Texan, who said having a time-trial up the mountain stage was a "bad idea".
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| The storms surround Lance Armstrong |
"I was very scared and I felt relieved when we reached the section with barriers," Leblanc said.
Talking to French television immediately after putting on his 62nd tour leader's yellow jersey, Armstrong singled out German fans as the worst of the group for their "disgusting" behaviour, though he later he was asked to backed away from specifying a nationality.
Similarly, Robbie McEwen, the points category leader, appeared to suffer because he's a sprint rival to German great Erik Zabel.
"This is not directed at Germany or all Germans, but there was a group of them who gave me a hard time on the way up," said McEwen, who finished at 8:28 adrift and topped it off with a trademark wheelie.
With four days to go, McEwen leads the points category with 225, from Norway's Thor Hushovd (213) and Zabel (212), with countryman Stuart O'Grady next on 204.
Fellow Australian Michael Rogers showed his big race pedigree to finish an encouraging 12th in the stage, around two-and-a-half minutes behind Armstrong.
Despite problems with the crowd, Armstrong was sensational and took his third Tour de France stage win in four days' racing in front of - and perhaps in spite of - what looked like the biggest crowd the tour has drawn to any climb in its 101-year history
Posted by: akabezalel
Father protect Lance Armstrong and the other riders! I rebuke the spirit of terror that has found a focus in the crowd mentality of the spectators. You have no power or dominion here in ths race or in the lives of the people in the race. you must leave and quit the field, in the Name of Jesus. I speak peace and calm over the spectators. I speak peace and protection over the participants in the race. Send the angels out to be a barrier between the participants and any spectators who may feel they need to hurt or dishonor any of the riders. In the Name of Jesus. AMEN!
Posted by: JG
Thank you Carol I am so supprised
every American is not here to post prayers for him.
Posted by: JG
LE GRAND BORNARD, France -- Lance Armstrong never thought about playing it safe this time -- even with a sizable overall lead and a record sixth Tour de France victory so close.The Texan threw caution aside and powered to another brilliant victory Thursday, winning three straight stages for the first time and picking up his fourth victory of this Tour
In past years, when Armstrong was in similar commanding positions, he used to let other riders take a bit of the glory in stages. He's a bit more selfish now
"No more gifts this year," Armstrong said. "I've given gifts in the Tour de France before and very rarely has it ever come back to help me."
Three days before the race glides across the Champs Elysees in Paris, Armstrong's lead is rock-solid. Heading into Friday's 18th stage, Armstrong's advantage over second-placed Ivan Basso is 4 minutes, 9 seconds. Andreas Kloden is third, 5:11 back, while Jan Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner, is 8:08 behind in fourth
The 32-year-old Texan has dominated the last three stages -- all in the Alps -- raising his career total of stage victories to 20. He has triumphed in four of the last six legs, including winning and finishing a close second in two Pyrenean mountain trails.
Posted by: alexx
Father .....be With Lance Armstrong Today...protect Him From Any Intentions Of Evil.....father Please Renew The Atmosphere Of Good Sportsmanship To The Fans Watching....in Jesus Name I Pray...amen
Posted by: StarChilde
May God work mightily in all of this, in protection, and also in convicting those whose intents are not with or in love of this.~praying in the spirit~
Posted by: akabezalel
Father, put an hedge of thorns around Lance Armstrong and all of the other participants of the Tour. Give them angels to surround them with protection. Encircle them with a wall of fire just because You love them! I speak Your Peace over the crowds. I speak Your Peace over the riders and support crew. I rebuke the spirit of terror that is trying to gain control of the crowds, you must leave, I send you to the foot of the Throne of Jesus! Thank You Father for Your answer! Thank You Jesus for Your provision of Peace and Love. Thank You For the intercession for these people! Thank You! Thank You! AMEN!
Posted by: JG
Armstrong receives death threats we must pray for this American to be safe. Does anyone know if he is saved? Please join me by posting even a little note saying I am praying a prayer for Lance Armstrong.
From correspondents in Besancon, France
July 24, 2004
SECURITY was stepped up to protect Tour de France race leader Lance Armstrong after the American received threats before the Alpe d'Huez stage midweek, race director Jean-Marie Leblanc revealed today.
"There were threats against Lance Armstrong and we took these into account," said Leblanc, without giving details of the threats.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the 15.5km climb up the legendary Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday to see Armstrong move closer to a record sixth Tour de France title.
However, on several occasions, some riders came under verbal attack from the more boisterous sections of the crowd.
Armstrong said after winning the time trial that some of the things he had heard had been "disgusting".
Leblanc said that Armstrong had been notified of the threats before the time trial and the race director said he could understand why the American had felt uneasy during the climb.
"I can understand why Armstrong said the stage had made him feel uneasy," added Leblanc. "Now we know why. He had good reason to fear for his security.
"He had received threats, whether they were founded or not I don't know."
Armstrong was flanked by security agents during the time trial – one in front on a motorbike, the other following in the US Postal team car.
In recent Tour de France history, riders have rarely been the target of attacks by the public.
The most notable example however was when Belgian legend Eddy Merckx was punched in the liver by an irate member of the public as he climbed the Puy-de-Dome in 1975.
Posted by: JG
Father I pray for a hedge of protection around Lance Armstrong.
I stand with him father and feel such a burden for him
Father I do not know if he is saved but you do.
I pray you lead someone to him to give him the ability to come know you better Lord I pray in Jesus Name.
Posted by: akabezalel
Father, I come into agreement with JG and stand with him in the gap for Lance Armstrong. Holy Spirit, work in his life to bring him to jesus for his Salvation or to deepen his Faith in Jesus! AMEN!
Posted by: JG
American Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France on Sunday for a record sixth consecutive year. I want to thank all of you for praying. I found out Lance's step dad was a Preachers Kid but Lance is not a Christian. Let's pray he really finds Jesus in a personal way. Please read this story. He survived cancer but he really needs Jesus.
Lance Armstrong said: A Legend? I Would Rather be Remembered as a Dad
By Alastair Campbell
Armstrong is deeply suspicious of organised religion. He never knew his "so-called father", and he says that in all his 32 years, he has never asked his Mum, Linda, a single question about him. He was born with the name Gunderson, then his mother married the man who gave him his name.
Terry Armstrong a preachers son, talked religion but used to beat Lance with a paddle and he was relieved when he walked out. "He was like me in that he got his name from someone else," Armstrong says. "His biological name was Love. But his Mom married a man named Raymond Armstrong, a preacher. It's weird, I've got his name, my kids have his name but I have never met him and I never want to meet him."
His stance on religion is in marked contrast to his wife's ever more fervent Catholicism and the difference may have been one of the factors that led to their marriage breaking up. Armstrong believes it is possible to be a good person while not believing. "I think we all have obligations to be good, honest, hard-working, caring and compassionate," he says. "You have to try and it won't always be easy but you try your best. I do not believe that because you are not prepared to submit yourself to a god or a higher being, that when you get to the end of the road, you will be sent down. I'm not prepared to believe that."
The language of religion is never far away when Armstrong talks about his sport: sacrifice, pain and forfeit as the route to improving mind and body; sport as a calling with a higher purpose. In one of his two autobiographies, he said that life is a series of false limits and his job is to challenge them on a bike. I ask him to explain. "Cycling is one of the two or three toughest sports in the world. The Tour de France is the ultimate sporting event. I don't think there is a harder sporting event anywhere. Imagine a marathon and Formula One combined - that's what it's like. It's three weeks of agony and it's hard and it hurts and it can be dangerous and every single guy who does it is one tough person."
Lance Armstrong's mom - emotional and proud
Linda Armstrong, mother of the champ, thought yet another win was only natural.
"Looking back, he was fast at everything, so it doesn't surprise me that this is the profession he chose," she said as her 32-year-old son, Lance, won his sixth Tour de France, the first rider to do it.
"Lance set a goal, and his goal was to win this Tour," she told The Associated Press. "Definitely, this is what he wanted."
Linda Armstrong was 17 when she gave birth to her only child, and she raised him without a father. From his youngest days, she said, he excelled as a swimmer, a runner and a cyclist.
Eight years ago, she watched Lance fight his way back from testicular cancer that spread to his lungs and brains, leaving him with less than a 50 percent chance of survival.
"I'm emotional, it's a very emotional time for me," she said, beaming broadly.
Par Excel-Lance: Armstrong Wins Tour De France
Paris, France (Sports Network) - American Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France on Sunday for a record sixth consecutive year and became the only rider to notch six career titles in cycling's premiere event.
Armstrong led since stage 15 of the race and did not relinquish the lead thereafter. The 32-year-old Texan, who won a total of five stages, finished six minutes and 19 seconds clear of second-place finisher Andreas Kloden of Germany.
Italian Ivan Basso finished third overall, while German Jan Ullrich, the 1997 winner, finished fourth. Jose Azevedo of Portugal rounded out the top five.
Tom Boonen of Belgium covered the 163 km final stage from Montereau to Paris (Champs Elysees) in four hours, eight minutes and 26 seconds to record his second career stage win. Frenchman Jean-Patrick Nazon ended second and German Danilo Hondo was third. Australian Robbie McEwen came in fourth and Erik Zabel of Germany ended the 20th stage in fifth place.
As was reported by AnointedNews Death threats came in against Lance Armstrong.
Armstrong stayed out of harm's way on the final day and cruised to a 114th- place finish, 19 seconds behind Boonen's time.
"I was lucky to get through all those fans," Armstrong said after the stage. Luckier than he knows: On Saturday, race officials admitted they had received death threats against the five-time champion.
"Threats were made against Armstrong," Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc said, refusing to discuss the content of the threats in detail but confirming that the US Postal team leader had been made aware of the danger.
"We now know that were good reasons to fear for Armstrong's safety," Leblanc continued. "Whether they were founded or not, threats were made."
On Armstrong's 15.5-km time-trial to the summit of Alpe d'Huez -- just one of five individual stages won by the American at the 2004 race -- the 32-year-old Texan was flanked by an expanded security crew.
While all riders benefited from a motorcycle escort to navigate the manic throngs of fans on Alpe d'Huez, Armstrong was shadowed by two other special-agent motorbike cops: one keeping a sweeping eye on the crowd just in front of Armstrong, and another posting guard from alongside the US Postal team car.
"With all those people, I don't think a time-trial on Alpe d'Huez was necessarily the right thing to do," Armstrong said at the mountain's top.
"It was a little scary."
Posted by: Frederik
I'll pray for him (edited by Jerry)
Posted by: JG
Thank you for taking the time to pray it really means a lot to me. And I know it means a lot to the Lord.
Posted by: KingdomWarrior
Praying for his salvation! He has been through a lot and his testimony would bring many to the Lord. Thank God he made it through the Tour and won!
Posted by: bluecatkeeper
LOrd, please touch Lance's heart. Let him see beyond the glare of the spotlight, the fame and the money. Let him see that he is human and that it was from You that he had a second chance at life and three beautiful children and a loving devoted wife. Let his heart be opened to the Holy Spirit that he may use his second chance at life to do good and let him see that the family he has is sacred.
I also lift up Kristin Armstrong that she may have the courage, the faith and the strength to be the mom she needs to be to her beautiful children.
In Jesus name, I pray this AMen.
Lori
Posted by: Tc24Him
Father, I pray that Lance would come to know You as Lord of His life. I ask for a mighty hedge of protection around him and his wife and kids. I pray that You would send the perfect laborer into Lance's life to speak truth in love and may the Words of Love lead him to a realization that Christ is all He needs. I pray that You would Minister in a mighty way! Break away all false fascination's of guilt or shame. I pray for inroads into his life that you would bring him into Your light/salvation. I thankyou for the breakthrough that is happening in his life today.
