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Armstrong’s Astana Team Fined For Late Registration

By editor on July 6th, 2009

MARSEILLE, France, July 6, 2009 (AFP) – Lance Armstrong’s Astana team were fined on Monday after failing to sign on within the specified time at the start of the third stage of the Tour de France here.

Heavy traffic in Marseille city centre meant Astana broke the organizers’
rule that teams must register for the stage at least 20 minutes before the start of the race.

The Kazakhstan-backed cycling team have been fined 65 euros for the infringement.

“How typical that this team were late. It is disrespectful to the public who came here just to see Armstrong,” said race director Jean-Francois Pescheux.

“The money makes no difference to them.

“We will ask the UCI (the sport’s governing body) to make the fines harder.”

The delay is reported to have been caused by Armstrong sharing a cup of coffee with A-list Hollywood actor Ben Stiller, who was visiting the Tour’s VIP area here on Monday morning.

Armstrong had a cameo role in the 2004 movie Dodgeball in which Stiller starred.

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