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Lance Armstrong closes in on his 7th tour victory

Lance Armstrong set off Sunday on the last ride of his amazing career, a victory parade into Paris to collect his seventh Tour de France title. Lance posed for photographers as he started the 21st stage at the front of the main pack, holding up seven fingers and a piece of paper with the number 7 on it, with light rain falling. He gave a quick TV interview as he pedaled, during which he was asked where he was heading to next, and he replied: "The retirement home."

The 33-year-old who came back from cancer to dominate cycling`s most prestigious race was retiring at the end of the 21st and last stage of this year`s Tour, a 89.8-mile trek from Corbeil-Essonnes south of Paris. Only a freak accident on the last leg could prevent him from collecting his title on the famed Champs-Elysees. There, he will mount the podium one last time and then say farewell.