AMERICAN Lance Armstrong tasted his first moment of glory on the Tour when he won the eighth stage yesterday from Chalons Sur Marne to Verdun.
The 21-year-old Texan was in a group of six riders who broke away on the Cote de Douaumont climb 12 kilometres from the finish and he outsprinted the rest with a remarkable burst of speed as he came up on the outside in the final 200 metres.
Raul Alcala of Mexico was second and Frenchman Ronan Pensec third. Belgium's Johan Museeuw retained the race leader's yellow jersey.
But the day was a disaster for another young rider of outstanding talent.
Swiss Alex Zuelle, one of defending champion Miguel Indurain's main rivals for overall victory, fell badly on the descent from Douaumont and lost about two minutes on the main peloton.
Helped by his Spanish ONCE team, Zuelle tried desperately to get back in touch but he was riding in considerable pain from an injured hand.