With the Arc de Triomphe in the distance and a sea of fans along the roadside, Lance Armstrong stood on the podium at the Tour de France on Sunday, two spots below what he was used to.

Alberto Contador listened to the national anthem of Spain on the podium next to Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, left, and Lance Armstrong, right.

France's sports minister has said Lance Armstrong will be "particularly monitored" in anti-doping checks at this year's Tour de France.

Roselyne Bachelot said the seven-times winner, who has come out of retirement to compete and has always denied taking banned substances, would be watched.

"He will be particularly, particularly, particularly monitored," she said.

The head of France's anti-doping agency says the American would be treated like anyone else when it came to dope tests.