Texan Lance Armstrong surged past Jan Ullrich in the final stages of today's twelfth stage from Perpignan to the Pyrenees resort of Ax-les-Thermes to edge closer to the Tour de France's yellow jersey. Colombian Felix Cardenas took outright victory on the 166.5km stage, the first of three in the Pyrenees, with Roberto Laiseka of Spain second.
But the real drama came in the battle for third place as two times winner Armstrong once again showed Ullrich his prowess in the mountains. The German launched an attack on the final 9km climb and Armstrong went with him, reeling in the leaders. With less than 2km to ride Armstrong showed for the third day in succession that he was too strong for his main rival, surging past him.
The American took third place to close in on race leader Francois Simon of France, who finished more than three minutes behind the stage winner. Simon, who had a 13-minute lead over Armstrong after the eleventh stage, has said he does not expect to be wearing the yellow jersey after the Tour leaves the Pyrenees.
Filed by Shane Murray
