Lance Armstrong admits he faces a key moment in his career, and his quest for a record-equalling fifth Tour de France victory, on Friday when he tackles the 47 km individual time trial.

The American, like the four five-time winners before him, is discovering that the fifth title is the toughest of the lot.

"This is going to be the most important time trial in my whole career," the Texan said of the timed test between Gaillac and the Cap Decouverte theme park.

Before him, Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, Belgian Eddy Merckx and Spaniard Miguel Indurain all found their fifth crowning the most difficult to come by, and Armstrong is no exception.

For the first time since he returned from a near-fatal cancer to win his first Tour in 1999, the American has not opened a significant gap after the first mountain stages.

Armstrong's lead over second-placed Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov is only 21 seconds and his performance in the Alps seemed to indicate he might not be able to drop the other contenders in the Pyrenees.

Individual time trials are a different matter, however, and despite being beaten by Colombian Santiago Botero last year, he will start as a clear favourite.

"Lance doesn't dominate the Tour the way he used to. But we have one big advantage over our rivals and that is Friday's time trial as Lance is on paper far better than the rest in an event like this," said US Postal team chief Johan Bruyneel.

One of the reasons why Armstrong's gap over his rivals is so tiny is that in previous years, the first individual time trial took place earlier in the Tour, allowing the American to take a commanding lead.

AMBITIOUS MILLAR

Theoretically, Armstrong faces no serious opposition in the time trial from the riders placed directly behind him in the overall standings.

German Jan Ullrich, 2:10 adrift in sixth, is his most serious adversary in Friday's stage, which though shorter than previous Tour time trials is extremely demanding, especially in the expected stifling heat.

"I hope I can gain time on some of the mountain specialists and get a morale boost for the stages in the Pyrenees," said the 1997 Tour winner.

For Armstrong, the main goal will be to earn as much time as possible on climbers like l'Alpe d'Huez winner Iban Mayo or Vinokourov, although the Kazakh said he would not surrender without a fight.

"I'm not a time trial specialist but I did well in the Tour of Switzerland last month and in form, I can be pretty good," he said. "I was ninth in a long time trial on the Tour in 2001."

His Telekom team mate Botero became the first man to beat Armstrong in a long timed test last year in Lorient, but has been so lacklustre this year that he does not appear to be a serious threat.

One rider who does stand a chance of beating Armstrong is Briton David Millar, currently 19th overall, 7" "I'm going for first or second. Any other placing would be a disappointment," the Scot said.

"I've overcome my prologue disappointment in which I was clearly the best. I'm feeling really good and I'm going to be going for it."

Millar, who missed out in the opening prologue after his chain came off, also believes Armstrong will put clear daylight between himself and Vinokourov on Friday.

"I think Vinokourov will lose about three minutes," he said. "He's ridden well and is close to Lance in the overall standings after being very aggressive but he isn't very good in the time trials."

Other time trial specialists like Frenchman Christophe Moreau, Hungarian Laszlo Bodrogi and Spaniard Haimar Zubeldia, will also be ones to watch. 

Close

Today's Top News		Top Sports News
+GDP growth records 11-year low but on track ( 2003-07-18) +Tung vows to respond to public concerns ( 2003-07-18) +Expert: Taiwan separatists undermine relations ( 2003-07-18) +Vice-Minister leaves for US to discuss Korean issue ( 2003-07-18) +Commentary: US dreams of Asian NATO ( 2003-07-18)		+Chinese one-two in men's one-metre springboard final ( 2003-07-18) +Woods loses ball but not cool, Els struggles ( 2003-07-18) +Coria crushes Ferrer for quarter-final spot ( 2003-07-18) +Barcelona still in hunt to sign Ronaldinho ( 2003-07-18) +Armstrong faces 'most important time trial' of career ( 2003-07-18)