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Team Astana asserts its dominance in TTT

Four years on, it's still Armstrong's team who lays down the law

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Team Columbia en route to victory in the Giro d'Italia's opening stage.

Team Columbia en route to victory in the Giro d'Italia's opening stage. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Cadel Evan's Silence-Lotto team is all lined up.

Cadel Evan's Silence-Lotto team is all lined up. (Image credit: AFP)
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Silence-Lotto negotiates a bend in the team time trial stage.

Silence-Lotto negotiates a bend in the team time trial stage. (Image credit: AFP)
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The Silence-Lotto Team of Cadel Evans had a tough day.

The Silence-Lotto Team of Cadel Evans had a tough day. (Image credit: AFP)
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The Quick Step team races around a bend.

The Quick Step team races around a bend. (Image credit: AFP)
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The Quick Step team including Tom Boonen and Stijn Devolder

The Quick Step team including Tom Boonen and Stijn Devolder (Image credit: AFP)
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Cadel Evans leads the Silence-Lotto team during the team time trial.

Cadel Evans leads the Silence-Lotto team during the team time trial. (Image credit: AFP)
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Agritubel gets its turn on the team time trial.

Agritubel gets its turn on the team time trial. (Image credit: AFP)
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Cadel Evans pushes his Silence-Lotto teammates.

Cadel Evans pushes his Silence-Lotto teammates. (Image credit: AFP)
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Team Liquigas races the team time trial at the Tour de France.

Team Liquigas races the team time trial at the Tour de France. (Image credit: AFP)
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Team Milram in the 39km team time trial.

Team Milram in the 39km team time trial. (Image credit: AFP)
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French cycling team Francaise des Jeux

French cycling team Francaise des Jeux (Image credit: AFP)
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French cycling team Francaise des Jeux including the polka dot jersey wearer Jussie Veikkanen

French cycling team Francaise des Jeux including the polka dot jersey wearer Jussie Veikkanen (Image credit: AFP)
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French cycling team Agritubel finishes up.

French cycling team Agritubel finishes up. (Image credit: AFP)
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Swiss cycling team Cervelo races the time time trial.

Swiss cycling team Cervelo races the time time trial. (Image credit: AFP)
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Belgian cycling team Quick Step finishes, with Sylvain Chavanel (right) and Sebastien Rosseler (center)

Belgian cycling team Quick Step finishes, with Sylvain Chavanel (right) and Sebastien Rosseler (center) (Image credit: AFP)
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French cycling team Agritubel's riders, including team leader Christophe Moreau, at the finish of the team time trial

French cycling team Agritubel's riders, including team leader Christophe Moreau, at the finish of the team time trial (Image credit: AFP)
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German Team Milram

German Team Milram (Image credit: AFP)
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Italian cycling team Liquigas in the team time trial

Italian cycling team Liquigas in the team time trial (Image credit: AFP)
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Two Liquigas riders during the team time trial.

Two Liquigas riders during the team time trial. (Image credit: AFP)
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Garmin-Slipstream makes the final push to the finish.

Garmin-Slipstream makes the final push to the finish. (Image credit: AFP)
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Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) tried hard to keep his yellow jersey.

Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) tried hard to keep his yellow jersey. (Image credit: AFP)
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Fabian Cancellara's Team Saxo Bank finished 40 seconds behind Team Astana in the team time trial.

Fabian Cancellara's Team Saxo Bank finished 40 seconds behind Team Astana in the team time trial. (Image credit: AFP)
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Yellow jersey wearer Fabian Cancellara leads his team Saxo Bank into the finish.

Yellow jersey wearer Fabian Cancellara leads his team Saxo Bank into the finish. (Image credit: AFP)
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Team Astana come to the line with the best time.

Team Astana come to the line with the best time. (Image credit: AFP)
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French cycling team Cofidis heads to the finish.

French cycling team Cofidis heads to the finish. (Image credit: AFP)
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Euskatel-Euskadi finishes the team time trial.

Euskatel-Euskadi finishes the team time trial. (Image credit: AFP)
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Team Astana's Levi Leipheimer and Alberto Contador finish the team time trial.

Team Astana's Levi Leipheimer and Alberto Contador finish the team time trial. (Image credit: AFP)
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The final meters of the team time trial are incredibly painful... even if your team wins.

The final meters of the team time trial are incredibly painful... even if your team wins. (Image credit: AFP)
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Team Astana, including Lance Armstrong (right), pushes to the finish.

Team Astana, including Lance Armstrong (right), pushes to the finish. (Image credit: AFP)
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Team Astana rides to a stage win in the team time trial at the Tour de France.

Team Astana rides to a stage win in the team time trial at the Tour de France. (Image credit: AFP)
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Alberto Contador takes a turn at the front of the Team Astana train.

Alberto Contador takes a turn at the front of the Team Astana train. (Image credit: AFP)
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Team Astana on the podium after winning the team time trial.

Team Astana on the podium after winning the team time trial. (Image credit: AFP)
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Lance Armstrong of Team Astana came within a fraction of a second of taking the yellow jersey.

Lance Armstrong of Team Astana came within a fraction of a second of taking the yellow jersey. (Image credit: AFP)
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Alberto Contador smiles from the podium after his Astana team won the team time trial stage.

Alberto Contador smiles from the podium after his Astana team won the team time trial stage. (Image credit: AFP)
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Garmin-Slipstream on its way to second place.

Garmin-Slipstream on its way to second place. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Team Saxo Bank fought hard and kept yellow by fractions of a second.

Team Saxo Bank fought hard and kept yellow by fractions of a second. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Team Astana on the way to the win in the TTT

Team Astana on the way to the win in the TTT (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Astana put in a perfect performance in the TTT.

Astana put in a perfect performance in the TTT. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Fabian Cancellara happily dons yellow after stage 4.

Fabian Cancellara happily dons yellow after stage 4. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Fabian Cancellara just barely hung onto the yellow jersey after the TTT

Fabian Cancellara just barely hung onto the yellow jersey after the TTT (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Team Astana takes the podium after its win in the TTT

Team Astana takes the podium after its win in the TTT (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Caisse d'Epargne finished 7th.

Caisse d'Epargne finished 7th. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Team Katusha led the standings after a surprisingly strong ride.

Team Katusha led the standings after a surprisingly strong ride. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Rabobank had a rocky ride in the TTT

Rabobank had a rocky ride in the TTT (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Bouygues Telecom had half its riders crash.

Bouygues Telecom had half its riders crash. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Skil-Shimano was dead last in the TTT.

Skil-Shimano was dead last in the TTT. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Belgian TT champion Stijn Devolder in the midst of the Quick Step team

Belgian TT champion Stijn Devolder in the midst of the Quick Step team (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Cervelo TestTeam put in a solid performance for 8th

Cervelo TestTeam put in a solid performance for 8th (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Garmin-Slipstream did most of the TTT with 5 riders.

Garmin-Slipstream did most of the TTT with 5 riders. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Actor Ben Stiller was on hand to watch, this time he didn't keep Lance Armstrong from starting on time.

Actor Ben Stiller was on hand to watch, this time he didn't keep Lance Armstrong from starting on time. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Denis Menchov's Rabobank team had some troubles, and finished 11th.

Denis Menchov's Rabobank team had some troubles, and finished 11th. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Carlos Sastre's Cervelo team limited its losses in the TTT.

Carlos Sastre's Cervelo team limited its losses in the TTT. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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The Euskaltel-Euskadi team tackles the TTT.

The Euskaltel-Euskadi team tackles the TTT. (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
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Team Astana crosses the line.

Team Astana crosses the line. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Saxo Bank is led by Fabian Cancellara across the line to keep yellow by fractions of a second.

Saxo Bank is led by Fabian Cancellara across the line to keep yellow by fractions of a second. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Astana makes the lunge for the line in the team time trial.

Astana makes the lunge for the line in the team time trial. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Team Astana collects the accolades for winning stage 4's TTT.

Team Astana collects the accolades for winning stage 4's TTT. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Lance Armstrong follows Contador on stage after the team won the TTT.

Lance Armstrong follows Contador on stage after the team won the TTT. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Team Astana powers to the finish to win the TTT.

Team Astana powers to the finish to win the TTT. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Piet Rooijakkers came off second best on the challenging Team Time Trial course.

Piet Rooijakkers came off second best on the challenging Team Time Trial course. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Russia's Katusha

Russia's Katusha (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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AG2R La Mondiale rides the Montpellier team time trial.

AG2R La Mondiale rides the Montpellier team time trial. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Agritubel comes the finish line in stage four of the Tour de France.

Agritubel comes the finish line in stage four of the Tour de France. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Alberto Contador leads Astana.

Alberto Contador leads Astana. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Lampre-NGC

Lampre-NGC (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Quick Step

Quick Step (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Lance Armstrong at the front in team time trial stage four.

Lance Armstrong at the front in team time trial stage four. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Bbox Bouygues Telecom

Bbox Bouygues Telecom (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Astana on its way to win Tour de France stage four.

Astana on its way to win Tour de France stage four. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Saxo Bank

Saxo Bank (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Silence-Lotto

Silence-Lotto (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-NGC) shows signs of his crash.

Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-NGC) shows signs of his crash. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Liquigas

Liquigas (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Française des Jeux

Française des Jeux (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) leads his team to protect the race lead.

Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) leads his team to protect the race lead. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Katusha

Katusha (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Lampre-NGC finish its run despite two different crashes.

Lampre-NGC finish its run despite two different crashes. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Caisse d'Epargne finishes Tour de France stage four.

Caisse d'Epargne finishes Tour de France stage four. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Denis Menchov (Rabobank) gets going again after his crash in Tour de France stage four.

Denis Menchov (Rabobank) gets going again after his crash in Tour de France stage four. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Liquigas

Liquigas (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Team Katusha's Andrei Tchmil.

Team Katusha's Andrei Tchmil. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Lampre-NGC

Lampre-NGC (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank)

Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Astana

Astana (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Yaroslav Popovych leads team Astana

Yaroslav Popovych leads team Astana (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Garmin-Slipstream down to five riders.

Garmin-Slipstream down to five riders. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Christophe Moreau (Agritubel) rides on his own.

Christophe Moreau (Agritubel) rides on his own. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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David Millar (Garmin-Slipstream) leads his team.

David Millar (Garmin-Slipstream) leads his team. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Daniele Bennati at the front of team Liquigas.

Daniele Bennati at the front of team Liquigas. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Lance Armstrong (Astana)

Lance Armstrong (Astana) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Agritubel finish its team time trial in Montpellier.

Agritubel finish its team time trial in Montpellier. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Rabobank finishes, Menchov, l, shows signs of his crash.

Rabobank finishes, Menchov, l, shows signs of his crash. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Michael Rogers leads Columbia-HTC.

Michael Rogers leads Columbia-HTC. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Cervélo TestTeam

Cervélo TestTeam (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) takes the maillot jaune leader's jersey from Ben Stiller.

Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) takes the maillot jaune leader's jersey from Ben Stiller. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank)

Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Milram

Milram (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) leads his team

Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) leads his team (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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France's Cofidis

France's Cofidis (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Italian team Lampre-NGC

Italian team Lampre-NGC (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Basque team Euskaltel-Euskadi

Basque team Euskaltel-Euskadi (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Lance Armstrong (Astana)

Lance Armstrong (Astana) (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Fans enjoying the day as Columbia races by

Fans enjoying the day as Columbia races by (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne

Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne (Image credit: Sirotti)

Cancellara retains Golden Fleece by 22/100ths of a second

It was four years to this day when, on the fourth stage of the 2005 Tour de France, a team called Discovery Channel set an incredible average of 57.324 kilometres an hour to take victory in a 67.5-kilometre team time trial from Tours to Blois.

Helped by Dave Zabriskie's dramatic final kilometre crash that saw him lose his maillot jaune, the CSC team lost the stage by two seconds and swallowed another bitter pill when the hallowed golden tunic crossed shoulders to Lance Armstrong, who, as history now tells us, went on to capture his seventh Tour scalp.

Back in France after a four-year absence, and once more on a team time trial held on the fourth stage, Armstrong did almost the same thing again Tuesday in Montpellier.

Over a much shorter though far harder, far more technical 39-kilometre course, his Astana team - unified despite all that's been said about them and a potential rift with Alberto Contador the past six months - motored around Montpellier as if they were the TGV, the country's iconic fast train, their 50.340 km/h average 18 seconds quicker than Garmin-Slipstream and 40 clicks of the second-hand clock better than Saxo Bank.

However, Astana's winning time of 46:29 resulted in a deadlock. Overnight leader Fabian Cancellara and Armstrong both found themselves on the same overall time: 10 hours, 38 minutes and 7 seconds. It forced the timing officials to go back to their computers and look at their hundredths of a second to work out just who is the leader of the 2009 Tour de France. Turns out it was Cancellara - by 22 hundredths of a second.

"Time was born in Switzerland, so that was on my side!" said Cancellara.

"It wasn't a good course for a team time trial. It obliged us to remain calm and not go flat out right away," Cancellara continued. "We knew the last kilometres were more suited to a high rhythm. It was only 40 kilometres, not very long, but it was important to stay calm and concentrated, especially in the first part. Our preview of the course also helped a lot, and I think we deserve to retain this yellow jersey today. We can be very proud of what we have done."

But look what's behind him...

While the perfect Swiss timer may have the edge for now, there's a bevy of Astanas behind him - Armstrong, Contador, Andréas Klöden and Levi Leipheimer are now second to fifth overall, respectively. Part of La Grande Boucle for six consecutive editions from 2000-'05, but the first occasion since Christian Prudhomme has been at the helm, the current Tour director chose to revert to a format where no upper limit on the amount of time lost exists - the maximum three-minute deficit no longer applicable - and by consequence, it's seemingly put a host of contenders out of contention.

Runner-up the past two years, Cadel Evans of Silence-Lotto, is 35th on GC, 2:59 back, and on Tuesday clearly missed ousted time trial specialist Thomas Dekker, who lost his chance to start due to a two-year-old positive sample for EPO. Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne), the 2006 Tour champion, is 40th, 3:03 in arrears. Milram's Linus Gerdemann is 3:11 back in 45th overall. Said to be a dark-horse before the race began, Rabobank's Denis Menchov, who crashed in the opening kilometres and really never got going again, can now be regarded as a bit of a donkey, the Giro d'Italia champion a massive 3:52 behind Cancellara in 72nd place overall.

And doesn't Armstrong know it.

"There are two ways to define leader within this team: you can be strongest, or you can be team leader because you have experience, age, the trust of the other riders," said the 37-year-old. "That might be my role. But, as I told Alberto before the stage, I think we'll win; but what we have to do is ride a perfect race... I think today, the Tour de France is finished for some riders.

"The way the TTT works now, with team time counting to individual time, you look at results and it's difficult - with no disrespect - to make up that time. I said to Alberto: 'Let's ride perfect and make this race almost impossible to win for others.' I think we can say we accomplished that."

Eight still with a chance - albeit an outside one

Nothing like the Nantes to St Nazaire team time trial at the 2000 Tour or the aforementioned TTT of 2005, the 39 kilometres travelled involved a technical, brutally difficult first half, before a back section on rolling terrain heading to the finish at the Yves du Manoir stadium. Those teams who accurately measured their fuel tanks were able to throw their chain to the outside ring and rear clusters into the 11-tooth sprocket; those that didn't found themselves floundering.

Though the 2009 Tour's not quite over. We've still got seventeen stages to go.

Still with a remote chance of toppling the Astana juggernaut are: Columbia-HTC's Tony Martin and Michael Rogers, 52 seconds and 1:32 back in 8th and 16th overall, respectively; Garmin-Slipstream leader Christian Vande Velde, 1:16 behind and 12th; Roman Kreuziger of Liquigas, 1:31 down in 15th; Saxo Bank's Schleck brothers, Andy and Fränk 1:41 and 2:17 off the winning pace in 20th and 25th; Katusha's Vladimir Karpets, 2:31 behind and 27th; and defending Tour champ Carlos Sastre of the Cervélo TestTeam, 2:44 in arrears and 29th on the classement général.

"This tour will be exciting. They've designed a great route. You're not going to write your final story until we're all on the top of Mont Ventoux," said Armstrong, "that's a guarantee. That's good for you, good for the people, maybe not good for the riders, but good for the event.

"It will not be easy to win if I'm lucky enough to win again. Today, I'm realistic. I've got both feet on the ground. I'm not going to be last. But it won't be like 2004, 2005, 2001. It's going to be a lot harder than I expected, that's as honest as I can say it."

Christophe Moreau summed up the team time trial perfectly for the Tour de France guide. "It can be terrible when one focuses on not being dropped, or exhilarating when the team works well together."

In Montpellier on Tuesday, it all happened for Astana.

For images of stage four click here

Results
1Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana0:46:29
2Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
3Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
4Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
5Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Astana
6Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Astana
7Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Astana0:00:17
8Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream0:00:18
9Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
10David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
11David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
12Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Slipstream
13Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank0:00:40
14Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank
15Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team Saxo Bank
16Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank
17Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
18Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
19Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank0:00:46
20Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas0:00:58
21Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
22Brian Vandborg (Den) Liquigas
23Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
24Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
25Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC0:00:59
26Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team Columbia - HTC
27George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - HTC
28Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
29Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC
30Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - HTC
31Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - HTC
32Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas0:01:05
33Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas0:01:09
34Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank0:01:11
35Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
36Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha0:01:23
37Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Team Katusha
38Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha
39Nikolai Troussov (Rus) Team Katusha
40Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha
41Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha
42Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne0:01:29
43José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
44Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
45Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
46Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (Por) Caisse d'Epargne
47Rigoberto Uran (Col) Caisse d'Epargne
48Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
49David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne0:01:34
50Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Cervelo Test Team0:01:37
51Iñigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
52José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Cervelo Test Team
53Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team0:
54Brett Lancaster (Aus) Cervelo Test Team
55Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team0:01:37
56Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cervelo Test Team
57Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team
58Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:48
59Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
60Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
61Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:48
62Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
63Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
64Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
65José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2R La Mondiale
66Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:48
67Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:02:09
68Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
69Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:02:09
70Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
71Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
72Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:02:16
73Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank0:02:20
74Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
75Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank
76Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
77Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank0:02:20
78Juan Manuel Garate Cepa (Spa) Rabobank
79Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank
80Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step0:02:26
81Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step
82Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step0:02:26
83Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step
84Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step
85Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step0:02:26
86Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto0:02:35
87Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Silence - Lotto
88Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto0:02:35
89Sebastian Lang (Ger) Silence - Lotto
90Mickael Delage (Fra) Silence - Lotto
91Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto
92Charles Wegelius (GBr) Silence - Lotto
93Joan Horrach Rippoll (Spa) Team Katusha0:02:41
94Jérôme Coppel (Fra) Française des Jeux0:02:46
95Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française des Jeux
96Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
97Benoït Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux
98Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux
99Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française des Jeux
100Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux
101Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram0:02:48
102Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram
103Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram
104Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Milram
105Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram
106Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas0:02:49
107Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas
108Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Columbia - HTC0:02:54
109Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank0:02:55
110Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:02:58
111Christophe Kern (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
112David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
113Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
114Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
115Stéphane Auge (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
116Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
117Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
118Bingen Fernandez Bustinza (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
119Kenny Robert van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano0:03:02
120Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:03:03
121Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - NGC0:03:24
122Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre - NGC
123Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre - NGC
124Marcin Sapa (Pol) Lampre - NGC
125Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre - NGC
126Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française des Jeux0:03:30
127David Loosli (Swi) Lampre - NGC0:03:52
128Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux0:03:58
129Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank0:04:07
130Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin - Slipstream0:04:14
131Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - Slipstream
132Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
133Danny Pate (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
134David Lelay (Fra) Agritubel0:04:17
135Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (Spa) Agritubel
136Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel
137Brice Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
138Maxime Bouet (Fra) Agritubel
139Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Agritubel
140Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Agritubel
141Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Agritubel
142Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana0:04:19
143Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:04:25
144Marcus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram0:04:31
145Marco Bandiera (Ita) Lampre - NGC0:04:39
146Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre - NGC
147Laurent Lefevre (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom0:04:41
148William Bonnet (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
149Alexandre Pichot (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
150Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
151Saïd Haddou (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
152Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
153Thomas Voeckler (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
154Pierre Rolland (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
155Yury Trofimov (Rus) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
156Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne0:04:44
157Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Team Katusha0:05:06
158Thierry Huppond (Fra) Skil-Shimano0:05:23
159Koen de Kort (Ned) Skil-Shimano
160Simon Geschke (Ger) Skil-Shimano
161Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Skil-Shimano
162Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Skil-Shimano
163Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Skil-Shimano
164Andreas Klier (Ger) Cervelo Test Team0:05:30
165Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step0:05:55
166Steven de Jongh (Ned) Quick Step
167Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram0:06:08
168Peter Wrolich (Aut) Team Milram
169Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:06:26
170Grégory Rast (Swi) Astana0:06:32
171Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Team Katusha0:06:35
172Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia - HTC0:06:59
173Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Silence - Lotto0:07:04
174Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Silence - Lotto
175Angelo Furlan (Ita) Lampre - NGC0:07:20
176Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Team Milram0:07:22
177Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel0:07:23
178Albert Timmer (Ned) Skil-Shimano0:09:07
DNFPiet Rooijakkers (Ned) Skil-Shimano
*Unofficial individual rider placings

Results
1Astana0:46:29
2Garmin - Slipstream0:00:18
3Team Saxo Bank0:00:40
4Liquigas0:00:58
5Team Columbia-HTC0:00:59
6Team Katusha0:01:23
7Caisse d'Epargne0:01:29
8Cervelo Test Team0:01:38
9AG2R-La Mondiale0:01:49
10Euskaltel - Euskadi0:02:10
11Rabobank0:02:21
12Quick Step0:02:26
13Silence - Lotto0:02:36
14Francaise Des Jeux0:02:46
15Team Milram0:02:49
16Cofidis Le Credit en Ligne0:02:59
17Lampre - N.G.C0:03:25
18Agritubel0:04:18
19BBox Bouygues Telecom0:04:42
20Skil-Shimano0:05:23

General classification after stage 4
1Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank10:38:07
2Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
3Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana0:00:19
4Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana0:00:23
5Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana0:00:31
6Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream0:00:38
7Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Astana0:00:51
8Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC0:00:52
9David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin - Slipstream0:01:06
10David Millar (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream0:01:07
11Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Astana0:01:16
12Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
13Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank0:01:22
14Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team Columbia - HTC0:01:29
15Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas0:01:31
16Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - HTC0:01:32
17George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - HTC0:01:36
18Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Astana
19Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
20Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank0:01:41
21Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Slipstream0:01:46
22Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo Bank0:02:03
23Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team Saxo Bank0:02:05
24Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - HTC0:02:16
25Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank0:02:17
26Brian Vandborg (Den) Liquigas0:02:25
27Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha0:02:31
28Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas0:02:32
29Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team0:02:44
30Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
31Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas0:02:50
32Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC0:02:51
33Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:02:54
34Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne0:02:56
35Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto0:02:59
36Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha
37Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
38Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank0:03:00
39Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha0:03:02
40Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne0:03:03
41Hayden Roulston (NZl) Cervelo Test Team0:03:05
42Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (Por) Caisse d'Epargne0:03:06
43Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team0:03:07
44Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Cervelo Test Team0:03:09
45Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram0:03:11
46Rigoberto Uran (Col) Caisse d'Epargne0:03:12
47Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:13
48Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:16
49Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step0:03:17
50José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
51Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
52Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha0:03:18
53Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
54Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:21
55Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step0:03:23
56Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:03:24
57Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:03:25
58Brett Lancaster (Aus) Cervelo Test Team0:03:28
59Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas0:03:32
60Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC0:03:33
61Stéphane Goubert (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:34
62Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank0:03:36
63Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
64Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:38
65Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:42
66Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:44
67Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:46
68Nikolai Troussov (Rus) Team Katusha0:03:47
69Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas
70Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:03:48
71Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Team Katusha0:03:51
72Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank0:03:52
73José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2R La Mondiale
74Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step0:03:55
75Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank0:03:57
76Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step0:04:03
77Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:04:04
78Iñigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Spa) Cervelo Test Team0:04:05
79Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:04:09
80Juan Manuel Garate Cepa (Spa) Rabobank
81David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne0:04:10
82Christophe Kern (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:04:12
83Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank0:04:16
84Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux
85Jérôme Coppel (Fra) Française des Jeux0:04:17
86Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas0:04:23
87Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française des Jeux
88Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step0:04:25
89Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram0:04:27
90Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Milram0:04:28
91Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Columbia - HTC0:04:29
92José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Cervelo Test Team0:04:30
93Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step
94Mickael Delage (Fra) Silence - Lotto0:04:31
95Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram0:04:32
96Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank
97Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas0:04:34
98Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre - NGC0:04:35
99Stéphane Auge (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:04:40
100Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank0:04:46
101Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank0:04:48
102Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:04:49
103Benoït Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux0:04:50
104Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto0:04:51
105Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française des Jeux0:04:54
106Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française des Jeux0:04:56
107Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:04:57
108Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:04:59
109Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:05:00
110Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre - NGC0:05:02
111Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre - NGC0:05:05
112David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:05:08
113Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française des Jeux0:05:09
114Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram0:05:11
115Maxime Bouet (Fra) Agritubel0:05:16
116Sebastian Lang (Ger) Silence - Lotto0:05:17
117Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:05:27
118Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:05:28
119Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Silence - Lotto0:05:32
120Joan Horrach Rippoll (Spa) Team Katusha0:05:34
121David Lelay (Fra) Agritubel0:05:46
122Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Silence - Lotto0:05:49
123Laurent Lefevre (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom0:05:54
124Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Slipstream0:05:57
125William Bonnet (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom0:06:01
126Bingen Fernandez Bustinza (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne0:06:03
127Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:06:04
128Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Agritubel0:06:10
129Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Agritubel0:06:11
130Marcus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram
131David Loosli (Swi) Lampre - NGC0:06:15
132Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank
133Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre - NGC0:06:17
134Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom0:06:18
135Julian Dean (NZl) Garmin - Slipstream0:06:26
136Saïd Haddou (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom0:06:27
137Thierry Huppond (Fra) Skil-Shimano0:06:33
138Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (Spa) Agritubel0:06:35
139Marcin Sapa (Pol) Lampre - NGC0:06:40
140Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Skil-Shimano0:06:47
141Sébastien Joly (Fra) Française des Jeux
142Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) BBOX Bouygues Telecom0:06:49
143Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel0:06:54
144Thomas Voeckler (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom0:06:55
145Alexandre Pichot (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom0:06:57
146Koen de Kort (Ned) Skil-Shimano0:07:07
147Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne0:07:08
148Brice Feillu (Fra) Agritubel0:07:15
149Pierre Rolland (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom0:07:18
150Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Team Katusha0:07:22
151Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Agritubel0:07:24
152Piet Rooijakkers (Ned) Skil-Shimano0:07:25
153Simon Geschke (Ger) Skil-Shimano0:07:26
154Yury Trofimov (Rus) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
155Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Skil-Shimano0:07:29
156Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Skil-Shimano0:07:35
157Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram0:07:42
158Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step0:07:50
159Marco Bandiera (Ita) Lampre - NGC0:07:51
160Charles Wegelius (GBr) Silence - Lotto0:08:09
161Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Silence - Lotto0:08:16
162Kenny Robert van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano0:08:48
163Steven de Jongh (Ned) Quick Step0:08:52
164Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Team Milram0:08:54
165Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia - HTC
166Grégory Rast (Swi) Astana0:09:12
167Danny Pate (USA) Garmin - Slipstream0:09:19
168Peter Wrolich (Aut) Team Milram0:09:34
169Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Team Katusha0:09:43
170Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - Slipstream0:09:54
171Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel0:10:07
172Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre - NGC0:10:38
173Angelo Furlan (Ita) Lampre - NGC0:10:40
174Albert Timmer (Ned) Skil-Shimano0:11:09
175Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Silence - Lotto0:12:09
176Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française des Jeux0:14:35
177Andreas Klier (Ger) Cervelo Test Team0:15:30
178Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana0:19:31
179Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:22:10

Points classification
1Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC70pts
2Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team54
3Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne36
4Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank35
5Maxime Bouet (Fra) Agritubel31
6Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Slipstream30
7Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Skil-Shimano26
8Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel26
9Koen de Kort (Ned) Skil-Shimano25
10Stéphane Auge (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne24
11Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC24
12Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step22
13Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team Columbia - HTC22
14Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) BBOX Bouygues Telecom22
15Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi21
16Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram20
17William Bonnet (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom19
18Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Team Milram19
19Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale18
20Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Skil-Shimano18
21George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - HTC16
22Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram16
23Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale16
24Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Astana15
25Nikolai Troussov (Rus) Team Katusha15
26Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank14
27Thierry Huppond (Fra) Skil-Shimano14
28Angelo Furlan (Ita) Lampre - NGC14
29Saïd Haddou (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom13
30Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana12
31Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team11
32Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana10
33Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream10
34Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale10
35Alexandre Pichot (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom9
36Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana8
37Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - HTC8
38Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne8
39Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto6
40Kenny Robert van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano6
41Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana5
42Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team Columbia - HTC5
43Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi5
44Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas4
45Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step4
46Christophe Kern (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne4
47Simon Geschke (Ger) Skil-Shimano3
48Steven de Jongh (Ned) Quick Step3
49Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Astana2
50Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas2
51Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia - HTC1
52Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha1

Mountains classification
1Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française des Jeux9pts
2Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC6
3Koen de Kort (Ned) Skil-Shimano6
4Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale5
5Maxime Bouet (Fra) Agritubel4
6Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana3
7Stéphane Auge (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne3
8Marcus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram3
9Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne2
10Laurent Lefevre (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom2
11Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream1
12Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne1
13Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank1

Young rider classification
1Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC10:38:59
2Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas0:00:39
3Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas0:00:44
4Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank0:00:49
5Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas0:01:58
6Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha0:02:10
7Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (Por) Caisse d'Epargne0:02:14
8Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team0:02:15
9Rigoberto Uran (Col) Caisse d'Epargne0:02:20
10Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale0:02:24
11Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne0:02:25
12Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC0:02:41
13Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank0:02:44
14Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
15Nikolai Troussov (Rus) Team Katusha0:02:55
16Jérôme Coppel (Fra) Française des Jeux0:03:25
17Peter Velits (Svk) Team Milram0:03:35
18Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Milram0:03:36
19Mickael Delage (Fra) Silence - Lotto0:03:39
20Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto0:03:59
21Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre - NGC0:04:13
22Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram0:04:19
23Maxime Bouet (Fra) Agritubel0:04:24
24Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Slipstream0:05:05
25Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre - NGC0:05:25
26Thierry Huppond (Fra) Skil-Shimano0:05:41
27Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) BBOX Bouygues Telecom0:05:57
28Brice Feillu (Fra) Agritubel0:06:23
29Pierre Rolland (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom0:06:26
30Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Team Katusha0:06:30
31Simon Geschke (Ger) Skil-Shimano0:06:34
32Yury Trofimov (Rus) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
33Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Skil-Shimano0:06:37
34Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram0:06:50
35Marco Bandiera (Ita) Lampre - NGC0:06:59
36Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel0:09:15
37Albert Timmer (Ned) Skil-Shimano0:10:17

Teams classification
1Astana30:20:33
2Team Saxo Bank0:02:33
3Team Columbia - HTC0:02:45
4Garmin - Slipstream0:03:05
5Liquigas0:04:26
6Cervelo Test Team0:05:25
7Euskaltel - Euskadi0:05:34
8Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne0:06:12
9Team Milram0:06:33
10Quick Step
11Team Katusha0:06:36
12AG2R-La Mondiale0:06:46
13Silence - Lotto0:06:51
14Caisse d'Epargne0:06:57
15Rabobank0:07:27
16Francaise Des Jeux0:07:29
17Lampre - N.G.C0:08:24
18Agritubel0:08:48
19Bbox Bouygues Telecom0:09:41
20Skil-Shimano0:10:08

 

Garmin-Slipstream second despite challenges

By Richard Moore

Garmin-Slipstream began Tuesday's team time trial as highly fancied contenders for victory, but there seemed little prospect of that when, as they tackled the first climb, after just 10 kilometres, Tyler Farrar, the team's sprinter, was unable to hold on, and slid off the back.

Then it got worse: one by one other riders followed Farrar out the back door, as Bradley Wiggins, David Millar, David Zabriskie and Christian Vande Velde, all supremely strong time triallists in their own right, set a pace their teammates simply couldn't handle. Julian Dean, Martijn Maaskant and Danny Pate all lost contact, while Ryder Hesjedal held on for dear life, not contributing but fulfilling a vital role: as the fifth man, on whom the clock would stop, he had to remain in contact.

"We were really fast from the start," said Millar, who, with the rest of the team, had reconnoitred the course several times, with this stage a key target for Garmin-Slipstream. "On the first climb we lost some guys which left us with the minimum five required to finish, but with 28 kilometres still to race!

"Ryder did well to stay with us, but, not being a specialist, he couldn't contribute as Zab', VDV, Wiggo and me were just too fast for him. The four of us dug incredibly deep over the next 28km over a course that was very difficult - gale force winds and small roads made for more crashes than I've ever seen in a team time trial.

"I'm proud of the way we rode today. It didn't get us the win, but there's a lot more racing still to be done."

The team's directeur sportif, Matt White, said, "It was a very satisfying ride. We had five guys under a lot of pressure for the majority of the race after losing some guys early. It was a challenging course with a strong wind and narrow passages. We were fastest at the second and third time checks despite those challenges and having only five guys, which shows how strong the guys worked today. It was close, but not good enough. We try again tomorrow."

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