Lance Armstrong showed extraordinary determination to recover from a fall on the final climb of today's 15th stage of the Tour de France to cross the line in first place.
The American, bidding for a record-equalling fifth Tour victory, appeared to clip a spectator as he duelled with German rival Jan Ullrich. He quickly got back on his bike as the peloton waited for him.
It was the US Postal rider's second fall of the Tour after he was involved in a mass pile-up on the first weekend of the three-week race.
Armstrong, who held a 15-second advantage over Ullrich before the stage, attacked immediately after his mishap, leaving the German trailing as he headed for the finish at Luz-Ardiden.
Ullrich crossed the finish line high in the Pyrenees 40 seconds behind to leave him trailing in the overall standings by one minute seven seconds.
Alexander Vinokourov remains in third place, but lost more time on Armstrong after struggling in the last two climbs. He trails by 2:45.
The race finishes in Paris on Sunday.