Armstrong booed on Ventoux

Armstrong was booed on Alpe d'Huez in 2001

Lance Armstrong has revealed he was booed throughout his ascent up Mont Ventoux.

The three-time Tour de France winner finished the 14th stage in third place after breaking away from his leading rivals in a bid to pass Richard Virenque.

He failed to catch the Frenchman and afterwards hit out at the fans who lined the route.

Virenque cracks Ventoux

He said: "It's disappointing, to be honest.

"The people are not very sportsmanlike. A boo is a lot louder than a cheer and, if I had a dollar for every time someone called me a 'dope', then I'd be a rich man."

I'm not here to be friends with the people at the side of the road who drink too much and shout at the riders

Lance Armstrong

This is not the first time the American has been embroiled in a very public spat on the Tour.

On the climb of Alpe d'Huez last year he was continuously booed.

But he insisted he was unfazed by the French public's perception of him.

"It doesn't bother me, not now and not in four years time when I'm lying on the beach with my kids, drinking a beer." he added.

"I'm not here to be friends with the people at the side of the road who drink too much and shout at the riders.

"Don't come to the bike race if you're going to yell at people. It's an issue of class."

Racewatch: Tour stage 14

Armstrong looks on course for a fourth Tour victory after stretching his overall lead during Sunday's 14th stage.

He is now 4 minutes 21 seconds clear of his nearest rival, Joseba Beloki.