NEW YORK (AP) -- Lance Armstrong is considering retiring after he tries for a record seventh straight Tour de France victory this July.

“It's a possibility,” Armstrong said Thursday at a Central Park appearance to support New York's 2012 Olympic bid. “I am still thinking about that.”

Comments Armstrong, 33, made to Italian media last week that he missed his kids and the pressure was taking a toll on him fueled speculation that this year's Tour de France would be his last.

“Four more months and it's over...,” he was quoted as saying in Gazzetta dello Sport.

His new two-year contract to race for the Discovery Channel team requires he race just one more Tour de France.

On Thursday, Armstrong said he would have plenty of responsibilities to occupy his time if he was to retire.

“I'd have a lot to do with the fight against cancer,” said Armstrong, who overcame testicular cancer to become one of cycling's all-time greats. “That is enough to keep me busy for the next 50 years. I have three young kids that I want to be a full-time father, too.”

Armstrong was in Manhattan to backpedal from his endorsement of Paris as the possible host city for the 2012 Summer Olympics. New York, London, Moscow and Madrid are the other four finalists, with a winner to be selected by the International Olympic Committee on July 6.

On March 9, just as the IOC began assessing Paris' bid, Armstrong said, “to be fair, I think that Paris deserves the Olympics.”

A day later, he said: “New York City is the bid of my heart.”

On Thursday, he tried to straighten it all out.

“A few weeks ago, I tried to be extremely diplomatic in a country I have not always been diplomatic in,” Armstrong said of his comments in France, made while he was competing in the Paris-Nice race. “I think I created a bit of a stir in New York City.”

Wearing a red hat with the NYC2012 logo on it, Armstrong said: “This kid from Texas absolutely loves this city.

“This is absolutely the greatest city in the world. This is the city for the 2012 Olympics,” he said. “We have everything. Everything is ready. Again, I have to apologize a little for the confusion.”

Later this month, the former Olympian will race in the Tour de Georgia, returning to defend his title as he trains to compete for the Tour de France. And, he says, he'll continue to support New York's Olympic bid, “I want to be clear: I think all the other cities are deserving,” Armstrong said. “But none of them deserve it like New York City.”
Associated Press

Valverde takes stage 4 at Basque Country
Spain's Alejandro Valverde, (Illes Balears) won the fourth stage of the Tour of the Basque Country on Thursday, a 167km ride between Vitoria and Alsasua.Teammate Aitor Osa remains on top of theoverall standings.Stage Results
1. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Illes Balears, 4:12:04
2. Danilo Di Luca (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
3. M. A. Martin Perdiguero (Sp), Phonak
4. Jérôme Pineau (F), Bouygues Telecom
5. Björn Leukemans (B), Davitamon-Lotto
6. Bradley Mcgee (Aus), Francaise des Jeux
7. Patrice Halgand (F), Credit Agricole
8. Ricardo Serrano (Sp), Kaiku
9. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre
10. Josep Jufre (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada
11. Aitor Osa (Sp), Illes Balears
12. Matthias Kessler (G), T-Mobile
13. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC
14. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank
15. Stefano Garzelli (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
16. Angel Vicioso (Sp), Liberty Seguros
17. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor), CSC
18. Iker Camaño (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
19. Yon Bru (Sp), Kaiku
20. Alessandro Vanotti (I), Domina Vacanze
21. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Credit Agricole
22. José Luis Rubiera (Sp), Discovery Channel
23. Michael Rogers (Aus), Quickstep
24. Haimar Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
25. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank
26. Daniel Moreno (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada
27. Constantino Zaballa (Sp), Saunier Duval
28. Theo Eltink (Nl), Rabobank
29. Leonardo Bertagnolli (I), Cofidis
30. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner
31. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak
32. Manuel Beltran (Sp), Discovery Channel
33. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe), Francaise des Jeux
34. Alberto Contador (Sp), Liberty Seguros
35. Joaquin Rodriguez (Sp), Saunier Duval
36. Dario Frigo (I), Fassa Bortolo
37. Massimo Giunti (I), Fassa Bortolo
38. Francisco Javier Vila (Sp), Lampre
39. Kim Kirchen (Lux), Fassa Bortolo
40. Christophe Brandt (B), Davitamon-Lotto
41. Mario Aerts (B), Davitamon-Lotto
42. Nacor Burgos (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada
43. Massimo Codol (I), Fassa Bortolo
44. Oscar Sevilla (Sp), T-Mobile
45. Volodymir Gustov (Ukr), Fassa Bortolo
46. Cadel Evans (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto
47. David Cañada (Sp), Saunier Duval
48. Gorka Gonzalez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
49. Johann Tschopp (Swi), Phonak
50. Yannick Talabardon (F), Credit Agricole
51. Patrik Sinkewitz (G), Quickstep
52. Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz), Cofidis
53. Eladio Jimenez (Sp), ECV
54. David Etxebarria (Sp), Liberty Seguros
55. Benjamin Noval (Sp), Discovery Channel
56. Unai Osa (Sp), Illes Balears
57. Didier Rous (F), Bouygues Telecom
58. Ruben Oarbeascoa (Sp), Kaiku
59. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis
60. Jens Voigt (G), CSC
61. Dario David Cioni (I), Liquigas-Bianchi
62. Grischa Niermann (G), Rabobank
63. José Azevedo (P), Discovery Channel
64. Christophe Le Mevel (F), Credit Agricole
65. Alexandre Moos (Swi), Phonak
66. Serhiy Honchar (Ukr), Domina Vacanze
67. Javier Ramirez (Sp), Liberty Seguros
68. Jose Miguel Elias (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada
69. Vincenzo Nibali (I), Fassa Bortolo
70. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel
71. Roberto Heras (Sp), Liberty Seguros
72. Tom Danielson (USA), Discovery Channel
73. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr), Fassa Bortolo
74. Leonardo Piepoli (I), Saunier Duval
75. Juan Manuel Fuentes (Sp), Lampre
76. David Blanco (Sp), ECV
77. Ezequiel Mosquera (Sp), Kaiku
78. Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Bouygues Telecom, all s.t.
79. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Illes Balears, at 0:15
80. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol), Lampre
81. Wim Van Huffel (B), Davitamon-Lotto
82. Anthony Charteau (F), Bouygues Telecom
83. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus), Rabobank
84. Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Sp), ECV
85. Pieter Weening (Nl), Rabobank
86. Daniel Atienza (Sp), Cofidis
87. Addy Engels (Nl), Quickstep
88. Ronny Scholz (G), Gerolsteiner
89. Pavel Padrnos (Cz), Discovery Channel
90. Beat Zberg (Swi), Gerolsteiner
91. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Credit Agricole
92. Philippe Gilbert (B), Francaise des Jeux
93. Xavier Florencio (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada
94. Sandy Casar (F), Francaise des Jeux
95. Vladimir Miholjevic (CRO), Liquigas-Bianchi
96. Axel Merckx (B), Davitamon-Lotto
97. Kevin De Weert (B), Quickstep
98. Marc Lotz (Nl), Quickstep
99. Iñigo Cuesta (Sp), Saunier Duval
100. Iban Mayo (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi
101. Fabian Wegmann (G), Gerolsteiner
102. Ruben Lobato (Sp), Saunier Duval
103. Andrea Moletta (I), Gerolsteiner
104. Pietro Caucchioli (I), Credit Agricole
105. Nicolas Jalabert (F), Phonak
106. Xabier Zandio (Sp), Illes Balears
107. Matthieu Sprick (F), Bouygues Telecom
108. Andrea Tonti (I), Lampre
109. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner
110. Luis Perez (Sp), Cofidis
111. Marco Fertonani (I), Domina Vacanze
112. Ivan Basso (I), CSC
113. Michael Rasmussen (Dk), Rabobank
114. Benoît Poilvet (F), Credit Agricole
115. Matthew White (Aus), Cofidis
116. David Muñoz (Sp), ECV, at 0:28
117. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, at 0:31
118. Patrick Calcagni (Swi), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 0:34
119. David Latasa (Sp), ECV, at 0:39
120. Andoni Aranaga (Sp), Kaiku
121. Alessandro Bertolini (I), Domina Vacanze
122. Andrea Noe' (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 1:04
123. Bingen Fernandez (Sp), Cofidis, 5:05
124. Rik Verbrugghe (B), Quickstep, 5:05
125. Bernhard Kohl (A), T-Mobile, 5:05
126. Luis Perez (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada, 5:05
127. Carlos Zarate (Sp), ECV, 5:05
128. Joseba Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 5:05
129. Maryan Hary (F), Bouygues Telecom, 5:05
130. Juan Manuel Garate (Sp), Saunier Duval, 5:05
131. Koos Moerenhout (Nl), Davitamon-Lotto, 5:05
132. Rémy Di Gregorio (F), Francaise des Jeux, 5:05
133. Manuel Calvente (Sp), CSC, 5:05
134. José Antonio Garrido (Sp), Quickstep, 5:05
135. Giovanni Lombardi (I), CSC, 5:05
136. Kjell Carlström (FIN), Liquigas-Bianchi, 5:05
137. Wladimir Belli (I), Domina Vacanze, 5:05
138. David Loosli (Swi), Lampre, 5:05
139. Markel Irizar (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 5:05
140. Laurent Lefevre (F), Bouygues Telecom, 5:05
141. Michele Gobbi (I), Domina Vacanze, 5:05
142. Thorwald Veneberg (Nl), Rabobank, 5:05
143. José Adrian Bonilla (CRC), ECV, 5:05
144. Francisco José Lara (Sp), T-Mobile, 5:05
145. Gorazd Stangelj (SLO), Lampre, 5:05
146. Antonio Berasategui (Sp), Kaiku, 5:05
147. Isidro Nozal (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 5:05
148. Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz), Domina Vacanze, 8:42
149. Jurgen Van Goolen (B), Quickstep, 8:42
150. Christophe Edaleine (F), Cofidis, 8:42
151. Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz), T-Mobile, 8:42
152. Jussi Veikkanen (FIN), Francaise des Jeux, 8:42
153. Frédéric Finot (F), Francaise des Jeux, 8:42
154. Peter Luttenberger (A), CSC, 8:42
155. Mauro Facci (I), Fassa Bortolo, 8:42
156. Steve Zampieri (Swi), Phonak, 8:42
157. Antonio Colom (Sp), Illes Balears, 8:42
158. Jason Mccartney (USA), Discovery Channel, 8:42
159. Adrian Palomares (Sp), Kaiku, 8:42
160. José Luis Arrieta (Sp), Illes Balears, 8:42
161. Joan Horrach (Sp), Illes Balears, 8:42
162. Christian Werner (G), T-Mobile, 8:42
163. Ivan Mayoz (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada, 8:42
164. Victor Hugo Peña (Col), Phonak, 8:42
165. Niki Aebersold (Swi), Phonak, 8:42
Overall, after four stages
1. Aitor Osa (Sp), Illes Balears
2. Danilo Di Luca (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, at 0:02
3. Patrice Halgand (F), Credit Agricole, at 0:02
4. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner, at 0:02
5. Damiano Cunego (I), Lampre, at 0:05
6. Joaquin Rodriguez (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 0:07
7. Denis Menchov (Rus), Rabobank, at 0:07
8. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank, at 0:12
9. M.a. Martin Perdiguero (Sp), Phonak, at 0:14
10. Ricardo Serrano (Sp), Kaiku, at 0:14
11. Constantino Zaballa (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 0:14
12. Leonardo Piepoli (I), Saunier Duval, at 0:14
13. Dario Frigo (I), Fassa Bortolo, at 0:17
14. Alberto Contador (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 0:18
15. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Illes Balears, at 0:20
16. Michael Rogers (Aus), Quickstep, at 0:20
17. Bradley Mcgee (Aus), Francaise des Jeux, at 0:20
18. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC, at 0:20
19. David Etxebarria (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 0:20
20. José Luis Rubiera (Sp), Discovery Channel, at 0:20
21. Oscar Pereiro (Sp), Phonak, at 0:20
22. Manuel Beltran (Sp), Discovery Channel, at 0:20
23. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, at 0:20
24. Matthias Kessler (G), T-Mobile, at 0:30
25. Angel Vicioso (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 0:30
26. David Cañada (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 0:30
27. Oscar Sevilla (Sp), T-Mobile, at 0:30
28. Roberto Heras (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 0:34
29. Cadel Evans (Aus), Davitamon-Lotto, at 0:35
30. Leonardo Bertagnolli (I), Cofidis, at 0:37
31. Massimo Giunti (I), Fassa Bortolo, at 0:39
32. Pieter Weening (Nl), Rabobank, at 0:40
33. Eladio Jimenez (Sp), ECV, at 0:41
34. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe), Francaise des Jeux, at 0:42
35. Jérôme Pineau (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 0:44
36. Benjamin Noval (Sp), Discovery Channel, at 0:44
37. Serhiy Honchar (Ukr), Domina Vacanze, at 0:55
38. Massimo Codol (I), Fassa Bortolo, 1:00
39. Haimar Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 1:00
40. Didier Rous (F), Bouygues Telecom, 1:03
41. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Credit Agricole, 1:05
42. Josep Jufre (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada, 1:05
43. Volodymir Gustov (Ukr), Fassa Bortolo, 1:05
44. José Azevedo (P), Discovery Channel, 1:05
45. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr), Fassa Bortolo, 1:05
46. Ezequiel Mosquera (Sp), Kaiku, 1:21
47. Vladimir Karpets (Rus), Illes Balears, 1:24
48. Christophe Le Mevel (F), Credit Agricole, 1:28
49. Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz), Cofidis, 1:34
50. Paolo Savoldelli (I), Discovery Channel, 1:35
51. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, 1:36
52. Mario Aerts (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 1:45
53. Francisco Javier Vila (Sp), Lampre, 1:52
54. Patrik Sinkewitz (G), Quickstep, 2:00
55. Tom Danielson (USA), Discovery Channel, 2:06
56. Vincenzo Nibali (I), Fassa Bortolo, 2:08
57. David Blanco (Sp), ECV, 2:09
58. Johann Tschopp (Swi), Phonak, 2:41
59. Marco Fertonani (I), Domina Vacanze, 2:49
60. Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Bouygues Telecom, 3:03
61. Jose Miguel Elias (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada, 3:11
62. Pietro Caucchioli (I), Credit Agricole, 3:12
63. Yannick Talabardon (F), Credit Agricole, 3:26
64. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol), Lampre, 3:33
65. Daniel Atienza (Sp), Cofidis, 3:45
66. Gorka Gonzalez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 3:57
67. Wim Van Huffel (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 4:20
68. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus), Rabobank, 4:23
69. Nacor Burgos (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada, 4:29
70. Sandy Casar (F), Francaise des Jeux, 5:46
71. Theo Eltink (Nl), Rabobank, 5:53
72. Christophe Brandt (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 5:53
73. Unai Osa (Sp), Illes Balears, 5:53
74. Grischa Niermann (G), Rabobank, 5:53
75. Javier Ramirez (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 6:01
76. Pavel Padrnos (Cz), Discovery Channel, 6:08
77. Matthieu Sprick (F), Bouygues Telecom, 6:08
78. Ruben Oarbeascoa (Sp), Kaiku, 6:41
79. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz), Credit Agricole, 6:57
80. Anthony Charteau (F), Bouygues Telecom, 7:04
81. Beat Zberg (Swi), Gerolsteiner, 8:05
82. Rik Verbrugghe (B), Quickstep, 8:33
83. Andrea Noe' (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 8:35
84. Stefano Garzelli (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 8:42
85. Kim Kirchen (Lux), Fassa Bortolo, 8:45
86. Ronny Scholz (G), Gerolsteiner, 9:01
87. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Gerolsteiner, 9:01
88. Björn Leukemans (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 9:03
89. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor), CSC, 9:03
90. Axel Merckx (B), Davitamon-Lotto, 9:18
91. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, 9:42
92. David Latasa (Sp), ECV, 9:47
93. Luis Perez (Sp), Cofidis, 10:14
94. Andrea Moletta (I), Gerolsteiner, 10:19
95. Michael Rasmussen (Dk), Rabobank, 10:24
96. Patrick Calcagni (Swi), Liquigas-Bianchi, 10:31
97. David Muñoz (Sp), ECV, 10:42
98. Iñigo Cuesta (Sp), Saunier Duval, 10:47
99. Thorwald Veneberg (Nl), Rabobank, 10:58
100. Xabier Zandio (Sp), Illes Balears, 11:23
101. Daniel Moreno (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada, 11:29
102. Manuel Calvente (Sp), CSC, 11:54
103. Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Sp), ECV, 12:08
104. Vladimir Miholjevic (CRO), Liquigas-Bianchi, 12:35
105. Juan Manuel Fuentes (Sp), Lampre, 12:37
106. Nicolas Jalabert (F), Phonak, 12:39
107. Dario David Cioni (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, 12:46
108. Jens Voigt (G), CSC, 12:48
109. Joseba Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 13:05
110. Iker Camaño (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 13:44
111. Kevin De Weert (B), Quickstep, 14:00
112. José Adrian Bonilla (CRC), ECV, 14:08
113. David Loosli (Swi), Lampre, 14:18
114. Andrea Tonti (I), Lampre, 14:56
115. Bingen Fernandez (Sp), Cofidis, 15:00
116. Andoni Aranaga (Sp), Kaiku, 15:04
117. Christian Werner (G), T-Mobile, 15:07
118. Jussi Veikkanen (FIN), Francaise des Jeux, 15:39
119. Alexandre Moos (Swi), Phonak, 15:58
120. Bernhard Kohl (A), T-Mobile, 16:22
121. Peter Luttenberger (A), CSC, 18:34
122. Laurent Lefevre (F), Bouygues Telecom, 18:47
123. Matthew White (Aus), Cofidis, 19:25
124. Alessandro Bertolini (I), Domina Vacanze, 20:29
125. Xavier Florencio (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada, 20:43
126. Benoît Poilvet (F), Credit Agricole, 21:37
127. Philippe Gilbert (B), Francaise des Jeux, 22:01
128. Iban Mayo (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 22:09
129. Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz), T-Mobile, 22:26
130. Steve Zampieri (Swi), Phonak, 22:34
131. Fabian Wegmann (G), Gerolsteiner, 23:12
132. Joan Horrach (Sp), Illes Balears, 23:52
133. Yon Bru (Sp), Kaiku, 24:45
134. Antonio Berasategui (Sp), Kaiku, 25:08
135. Marc Lotz (Nl), Quickstep, 25:25
136. Ruben Lobato (Sp), Saunier Duval, 25:29
137. Francisco José Lara (Sp), T-Mobile, 25:33
138. Juan Manuel Garate (Sp), Saunier Duval, 26:08
139. Rémy Di Gregorio (F), Francaise des Jeux, 27:23
140. José Antonio Garrido (Sp), Quickstep, 28:02
141. Maryan Hary (F), Bouygues Telecom, 28:51
142. Mauro Facci (I), Fassa Bortolo, 29:59
143. Luis Perez (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada, 30:08
144. Giovanni Lombardi (I), CSC, 30:15
145. Alessandro Vanotti (I), Domina Vacanze, 30:32
146. Adrian Palomares (Sp), Kaiku, 30:58
147. Jason McCartney (USA), Discovery Channel, 31:16
148. Christophe Edaleine (F), Cofidis, 31:32
149. Isidro Nozal (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 32:15
150. Frédéric Finot (F), Francaise des Jeux, 32:50
151. Carlos Zarate (Sp), ECV, 32:55
152. Addy Engels (Nl), Quickstep, 33:16
153. Ivan Mayoz (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada, 33:58
154. Gorazd Stangelj (SLO), Lampre, 34:02
155. Markel Irizar (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 34:53
156. Victor Hugo Peña (Col), Phonak, 37:01
157. Kjell Carlström (FIN), Liquigas-Bianchi, 38:06
158. Michele Gobbi (I), Domina Vacanze, 38:16
159. Niki Aebersold (Swi), Phonak, 38:30
160. Jurgen Van Goolen (B), Quickstep, 39:30
161. Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz), Domina Vacanze, 39:50
162. Wladimir Belli (I), Domina Vacanze, 39:53
163. Koos Moerenhout (Nl), Davitamon-Lotto, 39:53
164. Antonio Colom (Sp), Illes Balears, 41:47
165. José Luis Arrieta (Sp), Illes Balears, 41:53