Armstrong 30th, but keeps lead in hand

BEZIERS, France -- Only the hot weather made Lance Armstrong sweat during the 13th stage of the Tour de France.

Saving energy for the race's grueling final week, the Texan was the 30th rider across the finish line in Saturday's leg, nearly 10 minutes behind winner David Millar of Britain.

But Armstrong made sure his closest pursuers for the title didn't gain any time on him. He kept his overall lead of nearly 2 1/2 minutes and remained on course for a fourth straight title when the Tour ends in Paris on July 28.

"It was very hot," was all Armstrong had to say about the stretch from the foot of the Pyrenees to Beziers, near the Mediterranean, where temperatures topped 85.

Millar covered the mostly flat route of 106 miles in 4 hours, 8 minutes, 18 seconds.

Armstrong crossed the finish line with the main pack, 9:56 off the pace. In the overall rankings, he's still 2:28 ahead of Spain's Joseba Beloki, thanks to victories in the opening two mountain stages in the Pyrenees.

Unlike last year, when the Tour ended with nearly a week of flat stretches, this year's race saves some of the hardest cycling for last.

Sunday's 137-mile 14th stage ends with a daunting climb up Mont Ventoux, which rises to 6,309 feet from flat surrounding countryside.

After Monday's rest day, the riders head into the Alps on Tuesday, and Wednesday's 16th leg from Les Deux Alpes to La Plagne is probably the most difficult of the three-week Tour.

It features three exceptionally tough climbs, which should help Armstrong extend his lead over Beloki.