Tour de France:Alberto Contador powered to victory in the individual time trial in the 18th stage of the Tour de France to retain a vice-like grip on the yellow jersey on a day Lance Armstrong returned to the podium positions.
Astana rider Contador finished three seconds faster than second-placed Fabian Cancellara in a reversal of the positions from the time trial on day one of the Tour, the Spaniard doing the 40.5 kilometres trek around Lake Annecy in 48 minutes and 30 seconds.
Armstrong only came 16th but still displaces Frank Schleck in third place in the general classification while Andy Schleck stays second overall, despite coming 21st in today's stage.
Bradley Wiggins came home sixth in the time trial, a place behind fellow Britain David Millar, to climb from sixth to fourth in the standings.
Wiggins leapfrogs Frank Schleck and Andreas Kloden, with just three days left in the Tour.
Nicolas Roche finished in 50th place, 3.11mins adrift of the winner and lies 25th overall.
After the race it was announced that Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, will quit Astana and form a US-based team in 2010 in partnership with RadioShack Corporation.
"Lance Armstrong will compete for Team RadioShack as a cyclist, runner and triathlete in events around the world, including the 2010 Tour de France," today’s statement said.
The 37-year-old American is currently riding the Tour with the Kazakh-funded Astana team.
"To be able to compete for an American team comprised of the world's top cyclists, supported by the best coaches and staff - I couldn't be happier to partner with RadioShack, a truly iconic American brand," Armstrong said.
RadioShack is a consumer electronics company based in Texas.