Armstrong Pretty in Yellow

Lance Armstrong is back in the yellow jersey with which he has become so closely associated after a typically powerful surge to victory on stage 15 of the Tour de France.

Armstrong, who won his first tour just 18 months after surviving cancer, outsprinted Italian Ivan Basso and German rival Jan Ullrich to cross the line first in Villard-de-Lans today, showing remarkable strength after 180.5 kilometres in the saddle.

It was the 20th stage win of Armstrong's Tour de France career and brings him ever closer to what would be a record sixth victory in the race.

It was a mesmerising statement of intent from the 32-year old American, who stepped up the pace in the closing stages to steal in front of Basso. The Italian claimed second place in the same time - four hours, 40 minutes and 30 seconds - as Armstrong.

Ullrich, in third place, was a further three seconds off the pace.

Armstrong, who rides for the US Postal team, had gone into today's stage 22 seconds behind race leader Thomas Voeckler, but he finished almost 10 minutes in front of the French rider who fell to eighth place in the overall standings.

Armstrong's advantage over the rest of the field is now one minute and 25 seconds, with Basso of the Team CSC his nearest challenger - a gap that could prove crucial with the crucial Alpe d'Huez time trial taking place tomorrow.

German rider Andreas Kloden of the T-Mobile Team is in third place, 3:22 off the pace, with team-mate Ullrich down in fifth, a full 6:54 behind Armstrong.

Armstrong had looked in some danger early in the stage, when Ullrich pulled as much as one minute clear.

But Armstrong hit back and proved too strong for Ullrich, Basso and Kloden in the sprint.

Leading placings in the 180.5 km 15th stage:

1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) US Postal 4:40.30

2. Ivan Basso (Italy) Team CSC same time

3. Jan Ullrich (Germany) T-Mobile 3 seconds behind

4. Andreas Kloeden (Germany) T-Mobile 6

5. Levi Leipheimer (U.S.) Rabobank 13

6. Richard Virenque (France) Quick Step-Davitamon 48

7. Mickael Rasmussen (Denmark) Rabobank 49

8. Jose Azevedo (Portugal) US Postal 53

9. Jens Voigt (Germany) Team CSC 1:04

10. Carlos Sastre (Spain) Team CSC 1:24

11. Laurent Brochard (France) AG2R 1:58

12. Marius Sabaliauskas (Lithuania) Saeco 2:02

13. Oscar Pereiro (Spain) Phonak 2:10

14. Christophe Moreau (France) Credit Agricole 2:11

15. Gilberto Simoni (Italy) Saeco 2:13

16. Georg Totschnig (Austria) Gerolsteiner

17. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) Illes Balears Santander

18. Pietro Caucchiolo (Italy) Alessio Bianchi

19. Marcos Serrano (Spain) Liberty Seguros all same time

20. Iker Camano (Spain) Euskaltel 2:24

21. Jose Luis Rubiera (spain) US Postal same time

22. Aitor Gonzalez Jimenez (Spain) Fassa Bortolo 2:58

23. Vladimir Karpets (Russia) Illes Balears 3:19

24. George Hincapie (U.S.) US Postal 3:25

25. Floyd Landis (U.S.) US Postal 4:49

26. Stephane Goubert (France) AG2R 5:40

27. Sylvain Chavanel (France) Brioches La Boulangere 8:42

28. Santos Gonzalez (Spain) Phonak

29. Michele Bartoli (Italy) Team CSC

30. Jose Enrique Gutierrez (Spain) Phonak all same time

Leading overall standings (yellow jersey)

1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) US Postal 67:13.43

2. Ivan Basso (Italy) Team CSC 1:25 behind

3. Andreas Kloeden (Germany) T-Mobile 3.22

4. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) Illes Balears 5.39

5. Jan Ullrich (Germany) T-Mobile 6.54

6. Jose Azevedo (Portugal) US Postal 7.34

7. Georg Totschnig (Austria) Gerolsteiner 8.19

8. Thomas Voeckler (France) Brioches La Boulangere 9.28

9. Pietro Caucchioli (Italy) Alessio Bianchi 10.10

10. Levi Leipheimer (U.S.) Rabobank 10.58