TOUR DE FRANCE Armstrong overpowers rivals

Lance Armstrong won the 13th stage to pull within 22 seconds of the leader.
PLATEAU DE BEILLE, France (AP) -- Clearing the path to a record sixth straight Tour de France crown, Lance Armstrong overpowered his rivals Saturday to cement his place as one of cycling's greatest riders.
Armstrong captured the 13th stage to move within just 22 seconds of leader Thomas Voeckler, who most likely will be easy prey for the Texan.
With just the Alps and two time trials remaining to negotiate next week, only a meltdown by Armstrong or an unforeseen accident appeared to stand in the way of victory in Paris on July 25.
Only Italian Ivan Basso managed to stay with the five-time champion on the last of seven climbs in the Pyrenees, a devastating ascent to the Plateau de Beille.
As Armstrong and Basso bobbed off their saddles through excited crowds lining the route, other riders scattered down the mountain, their hopes of winning seemingly over.
"The team was great. ... It was a dream," Armstrong said.
Hamilton pulls out
Tyler Hamilton, a pre-Tour favorite, pulled out with severe back pain, climbing into a team vehicle shortly before the halfway mark of the 127.7-mile trek from Lannemezan. A year ago, the American rode most of the Tour with a broken collarbone and finished fourth.
Armstrong overtook Basso with a final burst of speed. He also won this route in the 2002 Tour. The stage win was Armstrong's 17th in 10 Tours and his first this year. He also won the team time trials with his U.S. Postal Service squad this year and last.
On Friday, in the first Pyrenean stage, the showings were reversed: Basso won a stage for the first time in his career and Armstrong was second.
As in previous years, when Armstrong sealed victory in the mountains and then took his prize in Paris, he said he was not ready to declare the three-week race over yet.
"As I always say, the Tour finishes in Paris," the 32-year-old rider said. "There are still the Alps and many dangerous stages."
Ullrich's bid unravels
Germany's Jan Ullrich -- abandoned again on the last climb, as he was Friday -- was 2 minutes, 42 seconds behind. He came into the Tour seemingly determined to dethrone the Texan, who has beaten him three times -- but his race unraveled in the Pyrenees.
Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner and a five-time runner-up, is 6:39 behind Armstrong overall. Last year, he lost the Tour to Armstrong by just 61 seconds. Armstrong had rated the German as his most respected rival.
In just two stages in the Pyrenees, Armstrong has sliced Voeckler's lead from more than nine minutes. Voeckler, the French champion, dropped away on the last climb to the Plateau de Beille -- an ascent so hard it is not rated. But he persevered, limiting the damage and keeping his overall lead.
"I hung onto this jersey with my guts," he said.
"I don't think many people were betting on me this morning -- perhaps even me. I'm happy because it is mission accomplished," he added.
Armstrong said it had been his intention to take the lead when he set out Saturday. He came very close on the last 9.9-mile ascent, mined with hairpin bends that throw off riders' rhythm. While Voeckler clung on, other rivals collapsed.
Heras is 49th
Roberto Heras, a former Armstrong teammate, placed 49th, 21:35 behind Armstrong and Basso, who finished in the same time. Iban Mayo, a Basque rider whose climbing skills deserted him in the Pyrenees, placed 115th -- 37:40 back.
Basso, 1:17 behind Armstrong in the overall standings, has emerged as the last main rival. But he is not an outstanding time trial rider while Armstrong is. Basso gave up 2:02 to the champion in the final time trial last year and finished seventh in the overall standings, an improvement from his 11th place in 2002, when he was anointed the Tour's best young rider.