Lance ready to pounce

Lance Armstrong is expected to make his first significant move in this year's Tour de France today on the 40-mile team time trial from Cambrai to Arras.

Armstrong's US Postal team have been among the best in the discipline and will have the advantage of starting last knowing exactly what times they need to beat.

In previous Tours, teams have been awarded the actual time they clocked over the course. This year teams will receive time penalties based on their placing, with the slowest team facing a maximum penalty of three minutes.

"The new regulation is ridiculous," said Armstrong's team chief Johan Bruyneel. "If Tour organisers wanted a tighter race, they should not have had a team time trial at all."

Armstrong has every chance of claiming back the yellow jersey he has held for 53 days since winning his first Tour in 1999. He is fifth overall, 16 seconds behind Australian leader Robbie McEwan. Yesterday's stage was won by Frenchman Jean-Patrick Nazon.