Armstrong takes early lead in first-stage time trial as 96th Tour de France gets under way

July 24th, 2009 Contador leads as 19th stage of Tour beginsBOURGOIN-JALLIEU, France — Alberto Contador looks poised for overall victory as Tour de France riders have set off on a relatively flat 19th stage. Lance Armstrong has a tenuous hold on third overall, though he isn't expected to lose ground during Friday's 110.6-mile trek from Bourgoin-Jallieu to Aubenas in eastern France.

July 23rd, 2009 Annecy,FRANCE - The 18th stage of the 2009 Tour de France, a crucial individual time trial, got under way Thursday in the Alpine city of Annecy when Yauheni Hutarovich of Belarus rolled down the starting ramp. The 40.5km course around the Lake of Annecy contains a 3.7km climb at an average gradient of 6 per cent and is made to order for riders such as Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland, who won the shorter time trial that opened the Tour on July 4.

July 23rd, 2009 Contador wins time trial; Armstrong in 3rd placeANNECY, France — Alberto Contador has won the final time trial in the Tour de France, and Lance Armstrong moved up a spot to third place overall. Contador now looks all but assured of his second Tour victory after increasing his overall lead in Thursday's 18th stage.

July 23rd, 2009 Armstrong vies for podium in Tour's 18th stageANNECY, France — The 18th-stage time trial is under way at the Tour de France, with Lance Armstrong needing a comeback if he wants a place on the podium when the race ends Sunday in Paris. Alberto Contador has a comfortable grip on the yellow jersey, and the fourth-place Armstrong is looking to overcome brothers Andy and Frank Schleck, who bumped the Texan from second a day earlier.

July 19th, 2009 15th stage of Tour de France under wayPONTARLIER, France — Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong is facing a tough test as the first Alpine stage of the Tour de France has gotten under way between Pontarlier and the Swiss ski resort of Verbier. Fourth-placed Armstrong was 8 seconds behind overall leader Rinaldo Nocentini as riders set out Sunday on the 128.9-mile 15th stage.

July 17th, 2009 Armstrong still in 3rd as Tour's 13th stage beginsVITTEL, France — Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy wore the yellow jersey Friday to lead the other Tour de France riders out of the spa town of Vittel under rainy skies to Colmar in the race's 13th stage. The 124.3-mile stage through the rolling Vosges hills of eastern France features three big climbs including the category-1 Col du Platzerwasel.

July 15th, 2009 Cavendish wins 11th Tour stage, Armstrong in 3rdSAINT-FARGEAU, France — Mark Cavendish has won the 11th stage of the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong remains in third place overall. Cavendish sealed his second straight stage win and fourth of the Tour on Wednesday.

July 8th, 2009 Armstrong apologizes to Sastre and Vande VeldeMONTPELLIER, France — Lance Armstrong said he was wrong and disrespectful when he called last year's Tour de France a "bit of a joke." In the new book, "Lance — The Making of the World's Greatest Champion" by John Wilcockson, Armstrong is said to have recounted his early musings about a possible comeback after the 2008 Tour, won by Carlos Sastre. "The Tour was a bit of a joke this year.

July 8th, 2009 Armstrong just off lead as Tour's 5th stage beginsCAP D'AGDE, France — Lance Armstrong was trailing race leader Fabian Cancellara by a fraction of a second as Tour de France riders left for the fifth stage along the Mediterranean coast. Breakaway riders are expected to shine in Wednesday's 122-mile ride from Le Cap d'Agde to Perpignan, though the finale could also involve a sprint.

July 7th, 2009 Armstrong within second of yellow jersey at TourMONTPELLIER, France — Lance Armstrong surged within a second of the Tour de France lead after his Astana squad won Tuesday's team time trial in a dramatic finish. Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara of the Saxo Bank team narrowly kept the yellow jersey lead following the fourth stage, a 24.2-mile ride in and around Montpellier.

July 7th, 2009 Menchov crashes during Tour team time-trial MONTPELLIER, France — Giro d'Italia winner Denis Menchov of Russia crashed during Tuesday's fourth stage of the Tour de France but got back on his bike without any serious injuries. Menchov was behind a Rabobank teammate when he misjudged a left turn and skidded into the barriers shortly after the start of the 24.2-mile team time-trial in and around Montpellier.

July 7th, 2009 Armstrong takes 2nd as Astana wins Tour time trialMONTPELLIER, France — Lance Armstrong closed within a second of the overall lead at the Tour de France after his Astana squad won Tuesday's team time trial. Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara of the Saxo Bank team narrowly kept the yellow jersey after the 24.2-mile ride in and around Montpellier.

July 5th, 2009 Cancellara in yellow for Tour's 2nd stageMONACO — Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland was wearing the race leader's yellow jersey as 180 cyclists rode in the second stage of the Tour de France. Seven-time winner Lance Armstrong, prerace favorite Alberto Contador and other possible title contenders are likely to ride conservatively Sunday in the 116.2-mile stage from Monaco to Brignoles.

July 4th, 2009 Tour de France starts in MonacoMONACO — Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong began his comeback at the Tour de France on Saturday by briefly taking the lead in the first-stage time trial in Monaco. The 37-year-old Texan set off 18th among the 180 riders who were rolling down the start ramp one-by-one in the race against the clock.

July 4th, 2009 Cancellara wins first Tour de France stageMONACO — Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong went out early and put up a solid time in the opening stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, then was upstaged by Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland. Cancellara finished the 9.6-mile time trial in 19 minutes, 32 seconds, beating 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador by 18 seconds to capture the yellow jersey.