Lance Armstrong landed what could prove a decisive blow on his biggest rivals today with a performance devastating to two of the men who hope to deny him a record sixth Tour de France victory.

ROBBIE McEWEN claimed the ninth stage of the Tour de France by a whisker in the closest finish of the Tour so far.

Robbie McEwen claimed the ninth stage of the Tour de France by a whisker in the closest finish of this year’s Tour so far.

Filippo Pozzatto timed his sprint finish to perfection to ride into Saint-Brieuc in front and hand the Fassa Bortolo team their second win of this year’s Tour de France.

FRENCH champion Thomas Voeckler relieved Lance Armstrong of the yellow jersey after the 200 kilometre fifth stage of the Tour de France from Amiens to Chartres.

Manager of the ONCE-Eroski team Manolo Saiz has been expelled from the Tour of Spain for cursing at a television reporters on live TV.

THE US Postal team are confident they will deliver a gift-wrapped fifth victory for their leader Lance Armstrong in the centenary-year running of the Tour de France which gets underway today.

LANCE ARMSTRONG won his fourth Tour de France yesterday and his victory was so commanding that he earned a nickname from the bunch - the boss.

LANCE ARMSTRONG won his fourth Tour de France yesterday and his victory was so commanding that he earned a nickname from the bunch - the boss.

ANY DOUBTS over whether Lance Armstrong could win a fourth successive Tour de France were surely left behind for good in the steep hills of the Pyrenees yesterday.

Credit Agricole defended Stuart O'Grady's yellow jersey by pipping ONCE to top spot in the team time-trial.