Cycling: Armstrong in strong position

American Lance Armstrong put himself in a strong position for a second straight victory, finishing behind Austria's Peter Wrolich and Italy's Manuel Quinziato in the second stage of the Tour of Georgia yesterday.

Armstrong, who plans to retire after July's Tour de France, claimed a surprising stage victory in the same north-west Georgia city of Rome a year ago.

This time, he was beaten to the line by Wrolich and Quinziato as the leaders roared down the final hill of the gruelling course.

"I tried my luck," Armstrong said. "Last year was almost a freak experience, winning a sprint like that. It's not as if I'm disappointed to finish third. That's a tough little circuit out there."

Wrolich won the 197km stage in 4h 46m 29s.