"It motivates me more than anything. It puts a little fuel on the fire." UPDATE
I watched the France2 news last evening and saw Lance Armstrong speed up L'Alpe D'Huez.  It was hazardous and not pretty.  For some reason the Tour de France organizers don't keep the crowd away from the cyclists, there were nasty graffiti on the road, and hostile spectators.
Armstrong won the stage because of his skill, and because of his mental toughness
UpdateHe just won the 17th stage.