Armstrong moves to 2nd place as Astana wins Tour time trial; Cancellara narrowly keeps lead

Armstrong takes 2nd as Astana wins Tour time trial

MONTPELLIER, France — Lance Armstrong closed within a second of the overall lead at the Tour de France after his Astana squad won Tuesday’s team time trial.

Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara of the Saxo Bank team narrowly kept the yellow jersey after the 24.2-mile ride in and around Montpellier.

Astana needed to beat Saxo by more than 40 seconds for Armstrong to take the overall lead. The seven-time champion started the stage in third place, and he and Astana exactly matched that 40-second deficit.

The Tour ends July 26 in Paris.