Armstrong, who by then had won his last of seven Tours de France, joked on air that the yellow tie he was wearing was made from the yellow jersey worn by the race's leader.

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Some board members are keen on a European investment-banking tie-up, perhaps with Banque Nationale de Paris, which recently took control of a rival French bank, Paribas, and which has a longstanding alliance (and small cross-shareholding) with Dresdner.

ECONOMIST: Dresdner Bank

But, after a tie for 46th at Celtic Manor and last week's efforts at the Estoril Open de Portugal, where he shot two 69s and a third round 66 before falling away with a final day 76, he has taken the advice of his manager Chubby Chandler to free wheel for a few days.

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