-
New Zealand's Julian Dean - Source: Getty -
Related
Lance Armstrong was full of praise for New Zealand cyclist Julian Dean on Friday and as tvnz.co.nz's reports Chris Matthews, Dean was gracious in reply.
When you're competing in the Tour de France, a compliment from Armstrong is like Tiger Woods speaking highly of your short game or Kobe Bryant talking up your jump shot.
So when Dean pushed Garmin team-mate Tyler Farrar to the verge of an elusive stage win on Thursday's 11th stage it was that man Armstrong who paid tribute to the one-two sprint combo.
The seven time winner said that the Farrar-Dean combination still has a chance of winning a stage as long as the Kiwi is there do the all the dirty work
"As long as he has Julian (Dean) to do his final wheel, he'll be OK," Armstrong told reporters.
"He's getting closer and he's not going away."
Understandably, the usually straight talking Dean was humbled by the kind words when tvnz.co.nz spoke to him on Friday.
"It's always nice to be recognised by your peers, they're the people that know the sport best.
"So it's always good whether it be Lance or any of the other riders."
The tour descends into the Alps over the coming days and the best chance for a stage win for Dean and Farrar is seemingly the decorated home stretch down Champs-Élysees.
Dean agrees with that sentiment but believes there could yet be some less obvious opportunities to pounce.
"Certainly there is (a chance in) Paris and on Saturday there is
chance of ending as a sprint but other than that we have to see
next week," Dean says.
