Armstrong pulls away from chasing pack

Lance Armstrong seized complete control of the Tour de France on Wednesday with an awesome display of power cycling to win the 15.5 km individual time trial from Bourg d'Oisans to L'Alpe d'Huez.

The American, bidding for a record sixth overall Tour victory, blasted round the 21 hairpins on the twisting climb to the Alpine ski resort in 39 minutes 41.47 seconds to annihilate his nearest rival Ivan Basso.

Italian Basso, one minute 25 seconds down at the start of the 16th stage, had no answer to Armstrong and finished 2:23 back after being overtaken by the US Postal rider on the road.

Germany's Jan Ullrich produced a typically gritty ride to take second place on the stage in 40:42.49.

Ullrich's T-Mobile team mate Andreas Kloeden was third, 1:41 back, to boost his chances of overhauling Basso for overall second place.