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ARRAS, France (Reuters) - Lance Armstrong claimed back his familiar Tour de France leader's yellow jersey when U.S. Postal won a 40-mile team time trial in Arras Wednesday.
The American outfit clocked one hour 12 minutes three second in the fourth stage from Cambrai to hand the five-time Tour winner the 54th yellow jersey in his career.
Armstrong now leads his team mates George Hincapie and Floyd Landis in the overall rankings by 10 and 16 seconds respectively.
Swiss team Phonak, led by American Tyler Hamilton, were second more than one minute behind in 1:13:10 while Spain's Illes Baleares were third, a further eight seconds adrift.
U.S. Postal were impressive, clocking the third best ever average speed in a Tour de France team time trial at 53.71 kph (33.3 mph).
The stage was held in dreadful conditions, rain falling steadily on a windswept course.
Phonak's result was a feat in itself as they endured five punctures and dropped three riders.
Times in team time trials are taken on the fifth rider to cross the line.
Three riders from Ivan Basso's team CSC, also expected to feature among the best, slid on the slippery tarmac and lost crucial time.
The Euskaltel team of Spanish favorite Iban Mayo, who lost nearly four minutes and most of his Tour chances in a crash in Tuesday's third stage, fought back bravely, clocking the eighth best time of 1:14:38.
New regulations in force Wednesday limited gaps between teams to 10 seconds according to their finish, the team placed last losing a maximum of three minutes
The American outfit clocked one hour 12 minutes three second in the fourth stage from Cambrai to hand the five-time Tour winner the 54th yellow jersey in his career.
Armstrong now leads his team mates George Hincapie and Floyd Landis in the overall rankings by 10 and 16 seconds respectively.
Swiss team Phonak, led by American Tyler Hamilton, were second more than one minute behind in 1:13:10 while Spain's Illes Baleares were third, a further eight seconds adrift.
U.S. Postal were impressive, clocking the third best ever average speed in a Tour de France team time trial at 53.71 kph (33.3 mph).
The stage was held in dreadful conditions, rain falling steadily on a windswept course.
Phonak's result was a feat in itself as they endured five punctures and dropped three riders.
Times in team time trials are taken on the fifth rider to cross the line.
Three riders from Ivan Basso's team CSC, also expected to feature among the best, slid on the slippery tarmac and lost crucial time.
The Euskaltel team of Spanish favorite Iban Mayo, who lost nearly four minutes and most of his Tour chances in a crash in Tuesday's third stage, fought back bravely, clocking the eighth best time of 1:14:38.
New regulations in force Wednesday limited gaps between teams to 10 seconds according to their finish, the team placed last losing a maximum of three minutes
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