MAYRHOFEN IM ZILLERTAL, Austria  As rider after rider crossed the finish line at the Giro d’Italia on Thursday, Lance Armstrong was nowhere to be found.

He finally arrived, in 73rd place, with the other mortals who would not stand atop the podium or become soaked with Champagne after the sixth stage of the three-week race. Although Armstrong slipped to 25th place from 22nd over all, he began the day with a message for his many starry-eyed fans.

“People have to step back and realize that not every race is like the Tour de France,” he said while preparing in Bressanone, Italy, for the day’s journey into Austria. “I haven’t been at every race in the front. During my career, I didn’t win every bike race by seven minutes. It’s important to keep it in perspective.”

Michele Scarponi of Italy won the 154-mile stage, which took nearly six hours to finish. He raced ahead of the peloton in a breakaway, zooming through land reminiscent of “The Sound of Music.” He passed rolling hills, snow-covered mountains and cows wearing copper bells. The scent of farm animals drifted through the air.