updated 9:52 a.m. ET July 27, 2004

CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush called Lance Armstrong on Sunday to congratulate him on a sixth straight Tour de France title.

“You’re awesome,” Bush told Armstrong.

Bush “congratulated him on behalf of the nation, and told him his country was proud of him and that he was an outstanding athlete,” White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said.

Bush spent the morning clearing brush at his ranch but came into his house about the time his fellow Texan crossed the finish line, Buchan said. The president watched TV coverage after the race’s finish.

Bush took up mountain biking this year as his knees grew more painful from years of running.

Officials of the U.S. Postal Service, which has sponsored Armstrong’s team since 1996, were thrilled with his latest win in Paris, shouting to be heard via cell phone from the Champs-Elysées over music and cheers of the crowds.

“Lance just made history, bringing home the sixth straight victory in the Tour de France. The team today rode into the history books, and we couldn’t be more delighted,” Anita Bizzotto, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of the Postal Service.

Bizzotto said she hoped Armstrong would try for a seventh straight victory, “as along as he feels he can keep winning, and be an inspiration to people all around the world.”

The Discovery Channel, which will take over sponsorship of the team next year, also hopes to have Armstrong on the squad.

“In days and weeks ahead, we’ll talk about the 2005 schedule and roster and certainly our hope and expectation is Lance will continue to ride for years to come,” the Discovery Channel’s David Leavy said.

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