BARCELONA, Spain: Lance Armstrong admitted feeling fear on Thursday's rain-hit sixth stage of the Tour de France as wet conditions and slippery roads into Barcelona conspired to send riders tumbling.

Norwegian Thor Hushovd claimed the stage victory after what was a treacherous 181.5km of riding from Gerona to Barcelona during which more than a dozen riders were left battered and bruised after some heavy falls.

Saxo Bank's Fabian Cancellara retained the race leader's yellow jersey with a 0.22 sec lead on seven-time Tour winner Armstrong ahead of the first day of climbing in the Pyrenees on Friday.