Lance Armstrong reached the last of the of his Tour de France peaks today on the Col du Tourmalet. The occasion coincided with the 100th anniversary of the inclusion of mountain pass and French President Nicolas Sarkozy was there to honor him.

Armstrong shook his hand and said, "We are just two old guys that enjoy riding bikes together."

Sarkozy followed the 174-kilometer stage in the car of Tour de France boss, Christian Prudhomme. He saw Armstrong enjoy his last mountain day at the Tour de France, leaving only three races until the race ends in France's capital, Paris.

The day was cold and misty, but enjoyable compared to Armstrong's hard effort two days ago when the race covered the very same Tourmalet on its way to the finish in Pau. He attempted to ride clear of his rivals on the Col du Tourmalet, leaving 140 kilometers to race.

Cycling legend Eddy Merckx did the same thing in 1969 on an identical stage. He stayed clear, though, for the remainder of the stage and doubled his lead in the overall classification. He went on to win his first of five Tours that year.

"I am alive, I tried hard," explained Armstrong afterwards. "I am not the best guy on the race but I still have the spirit of a fighter."

The old boss of the peloton just did not have it Tuesday. His time at the Tour de France came between 1999 and 2005, when he won seven consecutive editions.

From the top of the Col du Tourmalet Armstrong looked out over France, towards retirement and returning to the USA with his family.

"Lance Armstrong," he said, "is over with in about four or five days."