Armstrong sends warning to Sydney

Armstrong: Celebrating in France again

Lance Armstrong has won the prestigious Grand Prix des Nations race, the final major time trial before the Olympic race in less than a fortnight.

The American double Tour de France champion was well clear of rivals such as British pair Chris Boardman and David Millar.

Boardman finished eighth, almost four minutes behind the American while Millar was 28 seconds further back in 11th.

The 70km GP des Nations road time trial is similar to the event in Sydney, which takes place on the penultimate day of the games in a fortnight's time.

Most of the potential medallists were in Yvetot in France, apart from the man seen as Armstrong's main rival, world no 1 rider Jan Ullrich.

Boardman was well off the Texan's pace

The American was primarily using the event to assess his fitness after fracturing a vertebra in his neck when he was knocked off his bike by a car during training in Nice.

After the race an official with Armstrong's US Postal team said the Texan would definitely be on the plane for Sydney.

There can be little doubt of his form and condition after he covered the course over a minute-and-a-half clear of Latvian runner-up Raivis Belohvosciks.

Hungary's Laszlo Bodrogi, in third place was almost another minute back on the windy Normandy course.

Armstrong confirmed his fitness in fine style

Armstrong's compatriot and US Postal team-mate Tyler Hamilton also had a good day, finishing fifth in the event.

But other hopefuls such as the British pair, and Frenchmen Laurent Jalabert and Christophe Moreau were distanced by the Texan winner.

Moreau, who finished fourth at this year's Tour de France, was sixth while former world no 1 Jalabert's recent poor form continued as he only just squeezed into the top 10.

Result

1 L Armstrong (USA/US Postal) 75km in 1hr 31mins 05secs
2 R Belohvosciks (Lat/Lampre) at 1min 41secs
3 L Bodrogi (Hun/Mapei) 2:34
4 M Rich (Ger/Team Gerolsteiner) 2:36
5 T Hamilton (USA/US Postal) 2:37
6 C Moreau (Fra/Festina) 3:04
7 F Finot (Fra/Credit Agricole) 3:40
8 C Boardman (Eng/Credit Agricole) 3:47
9 M Pinotti (Ita/Lampre) 3:51
10 L Jalabert (Fra/Once) 3:58
11 D Millar (Sco/Cofidis) 4:15
12 D Nardello (Ita/Mapei) 4:16
13 J Nuttli (Swi/Phonak Hearing System) 5:25
14 A Kasputis (Lit/AG2R Prevoyance) 5:25
15 F Teyssier (Fra/Jean Delatour) 5:31
16 G Maignan (Fra/AG2R Prevoyance) 5:49
17 A Martinez (Spa/Euskadi) 6:29
18 F Salanson (Fra/Bonjour) 6:37
19 J-I Gutierrez (Spa/Once) 6:54
20 G Auger (Fra/BigMat-Auber 93) 7:00