Cap' Decouverte (France), July18: Germany's Jan Ullrich ended a five-year famine to win his first stage on the Tour de France today after blasting his way over the 47-km time trial between Gaillac and here. Lance Armstrong, who finished in second place, retained the race leader's yellow jersey by a whisker.
Ullrich rocketed over the baking hot course in a time of 58min 32sec, with Armstrong, who was last to go from the 167- strong field, crossing the finish with a deficit of 1min 35sec. Ullrich, the 1997 tour champion who is making his return to the race this year, now sits in second place overall at 34sec.
Telekom rider Alexandre Vinokourov, who started the day in second place 21sec behind Armstrong came in third place, 51sec behind Ullrich and now sits in third place at over two minutes behind Armstrong. For Ullrich, meanwhile, it is a return to winning ways after a long and protracted relationship with the race that he missed last year and 1999. Bureau Report