New generation ready to succeed Armstrong
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-15 09:57

Popovych, surprise winner of the Tour of Catalunya, was one of the key riders in the team's strategy for the 10th stage, which put Armstrong back in the yellow jersey.

With experienced American George Hincapie, he set a pace that Armstrong's rivals were unable to maintain.

"When we realised that (Jan) Ullrich and (Alexander) Vinokourov were unwell, we asked him to move up a gear," team director Johan Bruyneel said.

"I asked him to accelerate with about 10 kilometres to go and he really accelerated. It was almost a sprint. We were lucky to follow.

"To come back from the crash he suffered in the previous descent, you have to give him the man of the day award. He is a really tough guy."

Bruyneel knows that once Armstrong has gone his team will have to find a new leader and Popovych could eventually be the rider for the job.

"We can't expect to have another number one like Lance," he said. "But we could start preparing for the future with a number two or a number three."

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