Armstrong's Astana dominate stage four
Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong tonight moved level with Fabian Cancellara at the head of the general classification after helping Astana to a team time-trial success on stage four of the Tour de France.
Cancellara, of Saxo Bank, retains the yellow jersey going into tomorrow’s fifth stage but Armstrong, the winner of the event every year between 1999 and 2005, was able to wipe out his 40-second deficit to the Swiss.
Astana posted a time of 46 minutes and 29 seconds to win the 39km stage at Montpellier, with Garmin-Slipstream finishing second 18 seconds back and Saxo Bank third, a further 22 seconds behind.
Alberto Contador, Armstrong’s team-mate, moves into third place in the overall standings while Andreas Kloden and Levi Leipheimer, who also ride for Astana, make up the top five.
Tony Martin, whose Columbia team ended up fifth today, 59 seconds off the lead, started the day second but drops out of the leading bunch.
