Armstrong takes giant step in the Pyrenees

Heat, the Pyrenees and his rivals could not get the better of Lance Armstrong, who took a giant step towards an unprecedented seventh Tour de France victory in yesterday's 220.5-km 14th stage.

The first stage in the Pyrenees this year was won by Austrian Georg Totschnig, who broke clear after seven kilometres and held on for one of the best victories of his career.

The Gerolsteiner team leader, King of the Mountains in last year's Giro d'Italia, was lucky the stage between Agde and Ax-3 Domaines was not a kilometre longer or he would have seen Armstrong fly past.

Armstrong wore out his rivals one after the other to sprint for second place, 56 seconds behind Totschnig and strengthen his grip on the overall leader's yellow jersey.

Only Italian Ivan Basso was able to stay with the six-times champion. Third overall last year, the CSC team leader lost a couple of seconds in the final 200 metres and finished third.

Armstrong's arch-rival, Germany's Jan Ullrich, showed he was still a force to be reckoned with, staying with Discovery Channel team leader and Basso until the final kilometre when the Texan stood up on his pedals in familiar and punishing fashion.

Overall, Armstrong leads Dane Michael Rasmussen by one minute 41 seconds while Basso is third, 2:46 adrift.

Today's 205.5-km 15th stage from Lezat to Pla d'Adet could be even more gruelling with four first category climbs, and the beyond category ascent to the finish.