Nantes (France), July 27: Lance Armstrong virtually assured his fifth consecutive Tour de France yellow jersey after a dramatic, penultimate day time trial won stylishly by 26-year-old Scot David Millar here on yesterday. Armstrong, who was last of the 148-strong field to ride down the ramp and into torrential rain, started the day with a 1min 05sec lead over German rival Jan Ullrich who was hoping to reduce the deficit ahead of Sunday's 20th and final stage.
However Ullrich, despite a fast start, failed to repeat his earlier time trial victory over the 31-year-old American champion who held on to finish in third place behind Millar and compatriot Tyler Hamilton, who was second.
Armstrong came over the line 14secs behind Millar's winning time of 54min 30secs, punching the air in victory after having avoided the fate of Ullrich who had crashed in the tricky latter stages of the course. "I was relieved to make it through a time trial that was very dangerous at the end and relieved to have got so much closer to winning the Tour de France," said Armstrong.

"I was extremely nervous this morning. I even tried to take a little nap this afternoon but I couldn't.

"There was no point in me taking risks with the wind and the rain like that. Then when I heard that Jan had fallen I just told myself, 'keep calm'.

"It wasn't important for me to win today. It was just important to stay on the bike."

Given the stakes - joining the exclusive club of five-time Tour de France winners - his anxiety is understandable.

Armstrong will join Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, Belgian Eddy Merckx and spaniard miguel Indurain in the five-time winners' club.

Bureau Report.