Astana won the fourth stage of the Tour de France today, a 39km team time trial around Montpellier with an imperious display of strength that moved Lance Armstrong within inches of the yellow jersey.
Questions were raised yesterday about the dubious unity within the Astana team, but today they united with the common goal of protecting Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador’s positions on general classification.
Regardless of team loyalties, the team united as a cohesive unit to beat Garmin and Saxo Bank by a comfortable margin.
Setting the fastest times at the second and third checkpoints over the rolling, technical course, Armstrong looked set to wrestle the yellow jersey from the shoulders of Fabian Cancellara.
Armstrong needed 40 seconds from Cancellara and he took exactly 40 seconds.
The Texan was mobbed as he crossed the line, the belief being that he had taken his first yellow jersey since 2005. However, it was the Swiss rider who successfully managed to defend his lead thanks to the hundredths of a second differentiating the two.
Astana’s time meant that Armstrong and Contador both moved a few steps closer to the maillot jaune, but Contador must have been delighted that the Texan did not steal the lead, for the first mountain stage on Friday could have meant even greater internal strife.
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Indeed, the Spaniard was all smiles on the podium; for him, it was the perfect result. A step closer to yellow for him but with Armstrong not quite close enough.
Despite losing four of their nine men, Garmin were an impressive second, but by their standards this will be a disappointment and the technical course wreaked havoc with their ordinarily well-drilled and well-oiled team time trial machine.
Big losers on the day were Carlos Sastre and Cadel Evans who lost almost three minutes to the Astana train apiece.
Detailed account of the day's action with our live coverage>>
RESULTS
Stage four: Montpellier-Montpellier, 39km
1. Astana 46-29
2. Garmin 46-47
3. Saxo Bank 47-09
4. Liquigas 47-27
5. Columbia-HTC 47-28
6. Katusha 47-52
7. Caisse d’Epargne 47-58
8. Cervélo 48-07
9. Ag2R 48-18
10. Euskaltel-Euskadi 48-39
11. Rabobank 48-50
12. Quick Step 48-55
13. Silence-Lotto 49-05
14. Francaise des Jeux 49-15
15. Milram 49-18
16. Cofidis 49-28
17. Lampre 49-54
18. Agritubel 50-47
19. Bbox Bouygues Telecom 51-11
20. Skil-Shimano 51-52
Overall classification after stage four
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Saxo Bank in 10-38-07
2. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana at same time
3. Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana at 19secs
4. Andreas Kloden (Ger) Astana at 23secs
5. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana at 31secs
6. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Garmin-Slipstream at 38secs
7. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Astana at 51secs
8. Tony Martin (Ger) Columbia-HTC at 52secs
9. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin-Slipstream at 1-06
10. David Millar (GB) Garmin-Slipstream at 1-07
Points classification
Mark Cavendish (GB) Columbia-HTC
King of the Mountains
Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française des Jeux
Best young rider classification
Tony Martin (Ger) Columbia-HTC
Astana came together to win the team time trial
Fabian Cancellara keeps the yellow jersey - but it was close
Mark Cavendish leads the sprinters' points classification
TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 LINKS
Tour de France 2009 - the hub: Index to reports, photos, previews and more.
STAGE REPORTS
Stage four: Astana on top but Armstrong misses yellow by hundredths of a second
LiveTour de France stage four TTT coverage
Stage three: Cavendish wins second stage as Armstrong distances Contador
Stage two: Cavendish takes first sprint
Stage one: Cancellara wins opening time trial
LATEST TOUR NEWS
Tour de France 2009 News Index>>
Delgado criticises Astana for Armstrong manoeuvre
Armstrong: Gaining time on Contador was not the objective
Stage three analysis: Why the bunch split and who gained the most
The Feed Zone: Monday, July 6
Analysis: Why Columbia must expect to do the bulk of the chasing
EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS
Stage three: David Brailsford interview
Stage two: Mark Cavendish on the Tour
Stage one: Jonathan Vaughters on Bradley Wiggins' chances
TOUR DE FRANCE 2009 PHOTOS
Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage one photo gallery by Andy Jones
Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson
Team presentation by Andy Jones
Team presentation by Graham Watson
TOUR GUIDE
Tour de France 2009 - the hub
Tour de France 2009: Who's riding
Tour de France 2009: Team guide
About the Tour de France
FEATURES
Tour de France 2009 on TV: Eurosport and ITV4 schedules
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