with apologies to the french

amid an estimated 900,000 spectators lining the 10 mile hillclimb:

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L'ALPE D'HUEZ, France (Reuters) - Lance Armstrong seized complete control of the Tour de France on Wednesday with an awesome display of power cycling to win the 9.6-mile individual time trial.

The American, bidding for a record sixth overall Tour victory, blasted round the 21 hairpins on the twisting climb to the Alpine ski resort in 39 minutes 41.47 seconds to annihilate his nearest rival Ivan Basso.
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current standings: armstrong, #2 basso at 3'48", #5 ulrich at 7'55"