Grapevine: Schumacher Loses Out to Armstrong

Six times Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher lost out to cyclist Lance Armstrong in the Reuters sportsman of 2003 poll.

Thirty-one sports editors and journalists from 24 countries nominated up to three leading sportsmen of 2003. Each first place choice was awarded three points, second place got two points and third place received one point. The poll was taken from December 11 to 17.

The American cancer survivor, who topped the poll with 42 points out of a possible total of 93, matched the feat of Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain when he clinched his fifth title in the sport's biggest race, the Tour de France.

"What he's done in that race is extraordinary...He's the number one sportsperson in the world right now," said Ondrej Foltin at the Herald Sun in Australia.

But Armstrong only narrowly beat England rugby union flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson who received 37 points and Schumacher who gained 36 points.

Schumacher became the first Formula One driver to win six Championships, overtaking the late Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio in the record books.

"Schumacher's record-breaking sixth World Championship probably was the one he won with most merit, as for once he didn't have an unbeatable car and was handicapped by the new qualifying system," said Andre Fontenelle at Veja in Brazil.

American swimmer Michael Phelps came fourth in the poll with 20 points, while Arsenal striker Thierry Henry of France came fifth with 13 points.