Just 11 seconds separated Armstrong from stage winner Santiago Botero, but that narrow margin has opened up a chink of hope for those intent on halting the US Postman’s bid for a fourth consecutive Tour title.

It was the first time in six attempts that Armstrong had not won a long time trial at the Tour, but even more surprising was his failure to take the yellow jersey from Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano.

The forecast was that the ONCE rider would surrender the race leadership to Armstrong, who would then go on to control events in the Pyrenees before breezing through to the top of the Paris podium.

However, de Galdeano limited Armstrong’s gains to just eight seconds, meaning the American - placed second - is likely to have to win the race in the mountains rather than just defend a lead.

That makes tomorrow’s 147 kilometres from Bazas to Pau, the last before a murderous nine days across both the Pyrenees and the Alps, potentially crucial to the outcome of the race.

De Galdeano could try to press his advantage depending on how Armstrong looks, but his talk at least is cautious.

He said: ‘‘We don’t know, we have the doubt of whether he (Armstrong) is in perfect condition.

‘‘We can speculate, but it is possible that in the mountains he will be the same as ever.’’

The ONCE man was no-one’s favourite to be winning at this stage, but he deserves to be wearing yellow now - although recent comparisons to Miguel Indurain are a little premature.

The 28-year-old and Joseba Beloki, ONCE leader and fellow Basque, are currently first and third respectively.

They are likely to get a good reception tomorrow as the route takes them close to home territory.

Both look strong bets for a podium place in Paris, but finishing ahead of Armstrong remains a different proposition.

De Galdeano said: ‘‘We have to maintain our lead and more than ever fight to win the Tour.

‘‘Joseba (Beloki) continues to be the leader of the team, although my privileged position can benefit me.

‘‘We will take part in trying to do the best for ONCE without damaging ourselves.’’

De Galdeano’s modest approach appears to be the right one with no sign of panic from US Postal.

Race director Frankie Andreu hinted that Armstrong was content to bide his time and wait for an opening - rather than go for yellow early and make himself even more of a target than he already is.

‘‘Lance’s time-trialling is fine and his climbing is fine,’’ he said.

‘‘I believe the Postal Service realises the danger of the Spanish riders and especially those at ONCE.

‘‘I also believe because the Tour’s mountains last for such a long time and are so late into the Tour that Lance’s team does not want to do any work until they have to.

‘‘To accomplish this you look toward Paris and you sacrifice some of the immediate goals like winning a stage.’’

While not matching the heights reached by de Galdeano, lone Briton David Millar is also enjoying some of the best form of his life.

The 25-year-old yesterday reclaimed the white jersey worn by the best young rider and is currently seventh overall.

It would be a considerable achievement were that to be the case in Paris on July 28, especially after the Scotsman missed the start of the season with glandular fever.

The contest for the green jersey is almost as compelling as the general classification, with Erik Zabel - pursuing an unprecedented and probably unmatchable seventh points title - dogged by a trio of Australians.

Robbie McEwen, only two points behind the German, is best placed but Baden Cooke and Brad McGee could yet have an influence on the outcome.