'Shirtgate' mars start to last Tour stage

     
PARIS (AP) - The final stage of the Tour de France has gotten
under way after a delay caused when Lance Armstrong's Radioshack
team was forced to change out of unofficial jerseys honoring cancer
patients.
      The start of Sunday's stage was held up for about 15 minutes
while Armstrong and his teammates took off the black jerseys with
the number "28" on the back. The figure was selected to honor the
28 million people fighting cancer, the focus of the Texan's
Livestrong Foundation.
     
The International Cycling Union said the RadioShack riders had
to wear the official race numbers.
     
The rest of the pack pedaled slowly as race officials delayed
the start.
     
The 63.6-mile run from Longjumeau to Paris is expected to be
largely ceremonial - with Alberto Contador set to win his third
Tour.
      
  (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)