Armstrong back in yellow

Lance Armstrong is back in the yellow jersey with which he has become so closely associated after a typically powerful surge to victory on stage 15 of the Tour de France.

He outsprinted Italian Ivan Basso and German rival Jan Ullrich to cross the line first in Villard-de-Lans today, showing remarkable strength after 180.5 kilometres in the saddle.

It was the 20th stage win of Armstrong’s Tour de France career and brings him ever closer to what would be a record sixth victory in the race.

It was a mesmerising statement of intent from the 32-year old American, of the US Postal team, who stepped up the pace in the closing stages to steal in front of Basso, who claimed second place in the same time – four hours, 40 minutes and 30 seconds – as Armstrong.

Ullrich, in third place, was a further three seconds off the pace.

Texan Armstrong had gone into today’s stage 22 seconds behind race leader Thomas Voeckler, but he finished almost 10 minutes in front of the French rider who fell to eighth place in the overall standings.

Armstrong’s advantage over the rest of the field is now one minute and 25 seconds, with Basso of the Team CSC his nearest challenger – a gap that could prove crucial with the crucial Alpe d’Huez time trial taking place tomorrow.

German rider Andreas Kloden of the T-Mobile Team is in third place, 3:22 off the pace, with team-mate Ullrich down in fifth, a full 6:54 behind Armstrong.

Armstrong had looked in some danger early in the stage, when Ullrich pulled as much as one minute clear.

But Armstrong hit back and proved too strong for Ullrich, Basso and Kloden in the sprint.