Landis leads as Armstrong slumps

Landis is now the lead cyclist for Swiss-based Phonak team

American Floyd Landis claimed the overall lead in the Tour de Georgia as defending champion Lance Armstrong failed to shine on the third stage.

Landis won the 29.9km time trial in 39 minutes 58.09 seconds, with David Zabriskie finishing in second and Christopher Baldwin coming home third.

Armstrong, however, could only finish a disappointing ninth, two minutes behind the eventual winner.

"I'm disappointed and it clearly shows I have some work to do," he said.

"I didn't feel great, but I thought I'd do a better ride than that."

[Armstrong] won't be shattered if he doesn't win this race Floyd Landis

Armstrong, who this week announced he will retire after the Tour de France this summer, knows he will have to step up his training ahead of the showpiece event.

"Last year I definitely got a jump on fitness, and this year I was way behind. I thought I caught up, but now I know I haven't," he said.

"Now it's time to re-evaluate the season."

Landis, who was Armstrong's right-hand man in several Tours with the old US Postal Service team, is 19 seconds ahead of Zabriskie in the overall standings.

"I don't think Lance has huge aspirations here," said Landis.

"He won't be shattered if he doesn't win this race. I think there's other guys to watch."

The event now moves to the gruelling mountain stages in north Georgia over the next two days.

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Tour de Georgia, stage three results:
1 Floyd Landis (Phonak ) 39min 58secs
2 David Zabriskie (Team CSC) at 19secs
3 Christopher Baldwin (Navigators Insurance) 22secs
4 Bobby Julich (Team CSC) 28secs
5 Nathan O'Neill (Navigators Insurance) 43secs
6 Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) 50secs
7 Tom Danielson (Discovery) 1min
8 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Discovery) 1:21
9 Lance Armstrong (Discovery) 1:46
10 Brian Vandborg (Team CSC) 1:47.

Overall standings:
1 Floyd Landis (Phonak) 11hr 14mins 19secs
2 David Zabriskie (Team CSC) at 19secs
3 Christopher Baldwin (Navigators Insurance) 22secs
9 Lance Armstrong (Discovery) 1:42.