Crash Puts Brakes on Ullrich's Cycling Tour Dream

The race against the clock played out on the 49 kilometer flat stretch between Pornic and Nantes on Saturday ended in bitter disappointment for German Jan Ullrich.

The 1997 Tour winner slid and crashed on slippery roads some 15 kilometers from the finish line of the crucial penultimate stage of the Tour de France. Though Ullrich climbed back on to his bike, he looked shaken, while American rival Lance Armstrong, who started three minutes behind him, now seems likely to lift his record-equaling fifth Tour title.

Armstrong (photo), who did not win the last time trial of the Tour for the first time since his maiden Tour victory in 1999, beat Ullrich by 11 seconds this time and held on to his yellow jersey. Armstrong, now leads his German competitor by one minute, 16 seconds on the eve of Sunday’s final 152 kilometer stage from Ville´d Avray to Paris, which is considered to be a relatively easy stretch.

The stage was won in 54: 05 by Briton David Millar, who crashed but still was the fastest on a course made slippery by constant rain.

Armstrong: Tour will not be won or lost for two seconds

On Friday, overall leader of the race and yellow jersey holder Armstrong led Ulrich by one minute and five seconds after the 18th stage after being forced into action by the German when he took part in an intermediate sprint early in the 203.5-kilometer stage from Bordeaux to St Maixent I’Ecole.

The tactic won Ulrich a four-second time bonus while Armstrong took two seconds. "I was a little surprised for it was a bold gamble. But he really believes in his chances," Armstrong said. But the 31-year-old took the move in his stride. "It’s not important. I don’t think that the Tour will be won or lost for two seconds," he said.

Since returning from a near-fatal cancer to win his first Tour in 1999, Armstrong has been dominating the world’s biggest cycling race. The American had also been predicting one of the fastest time trial's in Tour de France history on Saturday. "It's flat, straight and not technical. It should be a tailwind and so could be one of the fastest time trials in Tour history," said Armstrong in a recorded message given to the media on Friday.

The Texan, who is aiming for his fifth Tour de France victory said he was focusing on Saturday’s stage. "The most important thing is tomorrow of course. I’m staying calm and confident. In the last four years I always rode pretty good in the last time trial," Armstrong stressed on the eve of the decisive stretch. "I’m going to keep cool and ride my race."

Ullrich: fully motivated for final victory

29-year-old Ullrich, who won the Tour just once in 1997, has been back in brilliant form after years spent battling weight problems, injuries, training too little and dodging damaging doping scandals.

The powerfully-built East German from Rostock who is with Team Bianchi, is far less outspoken than his American competitor. All Ullrich had to say on Friday was he was "fully motivated for final victory." He however added he was "dead sure" he would make it. "I’m going to do everything to get Lance," he said.

Coach Rudy Pevenage said Ullrich had the advantage of keeping his nerve in the face of such a tense lap. "Lance has never been so nervous – he knows, that Jan is good," he said. "Jan is very relaxed, very cool, he has great self-confidence," Pevenage added.

Both were raring to go – "Everything is possible," was Ullrich’s parting shot on Friday. "My aim is to win this stretch, I feel I’m ready," said Armstrong.