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ARRAS, France — Lance Armstrong (search) took the overall lead Wednesday for the first time at this year's Tour de France (search) after one of the fastest time trials in race history. His U.S. Postal Service squad dominated the highly technical and rain-soaked event that gave the Texan the yellow jersey. Armstrong, bidding for a record sixth straight Tour title, smiled broadly as he crossed the line, riding a special aerodynamic bike and wearing an aerodynamic helmet and suit. Armstrong's most feared rival, 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich (search), finished fourth with his T-Mobile team. The T-Mobile squad was more than a minute behind, but new rules designed to limit the advantage that top teams gain in the event protected Ullrich to some extent. In all, the German lost 40 seconds to Armstrong's team — still a severe setback. Despite rain that soaked the 40-mile course from Cambrai to Arras, Armstrong's team still averaged more than 32 mph — the third fastest time in the history of the event. Armstrong will still be looking to the later mountain stages and individual time trials to put his rivals away for good. But the advantage gained in the team event was a major step toward yet another title.
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