Armstrong loses sprint in stage 16 of Tour de France

PAU, France - In his final days of his final Tour de France, Lance Armstrong showed some of the old fire.

The seven-time champion, knowing full well he no longer stands above all others in his sport, fought from beginning to end in the hopes of going out with a stage victory high in the Pyrenees.

It was not to be. Armstrong finished sixth after breaking away early in the 16th stage and holding his own through four major climbs of the Tour's most demanding leg. But he lost in a final sprint, with Frenchman Pierrick Fedrigo winning the 124-mile ride.

Alberto Contador was almost seven minutes behind, his Astana team asserting control over the field. The defending champion from Spain kept the overall lead, eight seconds ahead of Andy Schleck of Luxembourg. The two rode a day after Contador apologized for the way in which he took the yellow jersey.

Tuesday, Armstrong broke away on his own at one point before he was caught by a small group of riders. All of which was a bit of a change for the 38-year-old Texan.

"It was harder than I expected. It's been awhile since I sprinted," he said. "Just not quick enough. I'm not the best guy in the race but I still have the spirit of a fighter . . . I wasn't fast enough in the end. Fedrigo is very fast and he deserves the win."

The Tour ends in Paris on Sunday, and Armstrong acknowledged his career was nearing the finish.

"Lance Armstrong is over in about four days," he said.

Armstrong's coach, Johan Bruyneel, said the course was not ideal for Armstrong to prevail.

Second place went to France's Sandy Casar, with Spain's Ruben Plaza third.