Andreas Kloden

Germany's Tony Martin is among a few Tour de France riders who could be forgiven for dreaming of pulling on the race's coveted yellow jersey after the fourth stage team time trial on Tuesday. The first 26.5 km of the 39km team time trial, an event which was last held at the Tour in 2005, is over slightly undulating terrain on which the specialist teams will have little chance to make big time gaps. It is only over the relatively flat last 12.5 km that Saxo Bank, Garmin, Astana and Columbia will be able really to put their collective units into top gear. Ahead ... Read Full Story

Lance Armstrong is keeping his Astana team's yellow jersey rivals guessing by refusing to officially endorse Spanish ace Alberto Contador as their definitive team leader. "We're trying to keep it open a litle bit," said Armstrong when asked if the results of Saturday's opening stage time trial had helped decide whether he or Contador was now the team's definitive leader. Contador, the 2007 champion, stamped his yellow jersey credentials on the race by finishing second in the opening stage time trial at 18secs behind Fabian Cancellara. While Saxo Bank ace Cancellara got to start the second stage from Monaco to Brignoles in the race's ... Read Full Story

American Chris Horner has been forced out of the Tour of Spain after sustaining injuries in the mass pile-up which marred the end of Tuesday's stage, his Astana team said Wednesday. Another Astana rider, Alexandre Vinokourov, was also caught up in the melee which took down dozens of riders at a roundabout made slippery by the rain, but he will continue according to his team. Horner has a fracture on his left hand, severe bruising on his right hip and a deep cut on his upper lip. The American, who is known for his climbing skills, had been 20th overall at only 23secs behind ... Read Full Story

Andreas Kloden of Germany and team Astana in action during the first time trail of the 2009 Tour de France on July 4, 2009 in Monaco, Monaco. (Getty Images) more pics » Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and Team Saxo Bank is helped into the yellow jersey on the podium at the end of stage five of the 2009 Tour de France from Le Cap d'Agde to Perpignan on July 8, 2009 in Perpignan, France. (Getty Images) more pics » Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) in 15:07:49 Lance Armstrong (Astana) at 00:00 Alberto Contador (Astana) at 00:19 Andréas Klöden (Astana) at 00:23 Levi Leipheimer (Astana) at ... Read Full Story

Switzerland's Olympic time-trial champion Fabian Cancellara won the first stage of the Tour de France on Saturday in a time of 19 minutes 32.14 seconds to claim the yellow jersey. The 28-year-old showed his class with an impressive performance on the twisting and challenging 15.5km hilly course around the tiny Principality to claim his fourth stage victory on the Tour and was strong on the climb. Outstanding on the descent, current Tour of Switzerland champion Cancellara wiped 19 seconds off the previous fastest time set by Bradley Wiggins, who eventually finished third with Astana's Alberto Contador second. "I am quite proud, I put in ... Read Full Story