AUBENAS, France (AP) -- Lance Armstrong finished ninth Wednesday to remain in fourth place in the Dauphine Libere cycling race, a tuneup for his
attempt at a sixth straight Tour de France title.
France's Nicolas Portal won the hilly third stage, covering the 112 miles in 4 hours, 41 minutes, 42 seconds. Estonia's Janek Tombak and Spain's Iker
Flores were 51 seconds behind Portal.
Spain's Jose Gutierrez is the overall leader, with countryman Iban Mayo eight seconds behind. Armstrong is 10 seconds off the pace.