Tong Family

Velonews on Stage 15. _Proving that there is still great sportsmanship in professional cycling. Lance falls, but Hamilton and Ullrich tell the race leaders to wait for him_
Armstrong was sent toppling to the ground just as he was accelerating away from Ullrich and the lead bunch of riders with about 10km to go. Armstrong had just shot by the attacking Iban Mayo (Euskaltel) and drifted to the right side of the road when a fan’s yellow musette hooked the right side of Armstrong’s.
It was my fault because I was riding too close to the fans,” Armstrong said. “The bag hooked my handlebar and there wasn’t much I could do.”
Ullrich swerved to his left to miss the downed Armstrong and Mayo, and the race was thrown into chaos as the leading bunch was unsure if Armstrong would continue in the race. Ullrich pedaled on ahead with Tyler Hamilton (CSC), Ivan Basso (Fassa Bortolo), Haimar Zubeldia (Euskaltel) and Christophe Moreau (Cr?dit Agricole). Hamilton and Ullrich told the other riders to slow down and wait for Armstrong.