Giro's stage 5: Lance feels the pain, concedes 3 minutes, but he's happy

SHOOT: Lance wanted to concede no more than 2 minutes, but felt okay with 3 minutes.

NYT: For Armstrong, the warm-up might be over. Four stages of his first Grand Tour since retiring in 2005 have passed. Voigt said he saw cracks in Armstrong late in Tuesday’s stage: “I don’t think he was looking too convincing.”

A bigger test will come Wednesday. The fifth stage has a climb at the end that quickly rises from 1,086 feet to 6,050 feet.

clipped from www.telegraph.co.uk Armstrong, nearer 38 than 37 and currently riding with his collar bone pinned with metal clasps after he suffered a fall at the Vuelta a Castilla y León in March, said: "I am happy with my performance. "This was my first big climb since retiring. I had a good feeling and no collarbone pain at all." On his Twitter page, the seven-time Tour de France winner said: "Uphill finish. Legs weren't bad and made it almost the whole way. Came off a little at the top. Not bad for 1st big climb in first grand tour back and for coming back after the crash. Overall, I'm pleased. Team was amazing as well. All look good. Tomorrow-tough!"