After three weeks of bicycle racing, if there was any a day for Lance Armstrong to win a stage at the 2005 Tour de France, Saturday, July 23rd, would be the day to win. And win he did - with flying yellow colors all around!

Lance Armstrong has all but won the 92nd Tour de France (French for Tour of France) in 82 hours, 34 minutes and 5 seconds. Yesterday was his first stage win of the 2005 Tour de France. Saturday's win puts him four minutes and forty seconds ahead of Ivan Basso, who has earned a 2nd place finish. On Sunday, Armstrong will make his seventh and final Tour de France championship official.

The last time Armstrong was to compete in an individual time trial, he rocked and he rolled... much like his girlfriend on a different stage. And the crowd sang and danced along with him after his win -- right along side Sheryl Crow, his mother, Linda Armstrong Kelly, his six year-old son, Luke, and his three year-old twin daughters Grace and Isabelle.

OLN TV, the Outdoor Living Network, brought it to us in living color and with great flair from announcers, Al Trautwig, Phil Liggett, Bob Roll and Paul Sherwen.

John Kerry with Lance at The 20th Stage - AP Photo

And Democratic Senator John Kerry, who was in France to cheer Lance on at the 20th stage of the race, offered commentary. He also got to ride along side Armstrong in the team car. Kerry recommended that Armstrong consider running for political office one day. Senator Kerry said on OLN TV:

I think he'd be awesome, he'd be a force.

I just hope it's for the right party.

On Saturday, July 23rd, Lance Armstrong delivered a commanding performance on the race track.

On Sunday, the #1 professional cyclist in the world from Austin Texas, will ride into Paris with a seventh victory, a world-record, and the smile of a thirty-three year-old satisfied retired man.

A Dance with Lance

At 35 kilometers, a brand new best time in the time trials was recorded. It belonged to #1, Lance Armstrong. Lance was 19 seconds faster than Germany's Jan Ullrich at that point in the race.

On Saturday, Michael Rasmusson of Denmark was not dancing. Of the 155 men on the course, he started the stage in third place overall. After suffering from two crashes and the need for four bike changes, he had dropped to seventh place.

Armstrong started six minutes behind Rasmusson, who became King of The Mountains throughout the tour. Just short of the 40K mark, Armstrong passed Rasmusson on the course.

As fans cheered on their main man, they also shed tears for the great Dane.

Armstrong Moments Before He Passes Michael Rasmusson - AP Photo

At 40 kilometers, Armstrong was 32 seconds ahead of Ullrich's time.

At the 49.7K time trial mark, Armstrong widened is lead ahead of Ullrich. Armstrong's time: 1:05:51. Ullrich's time at that mark: 1:06:26.

At the finish line, Armstrong completed his last individual time trial 23 seconds ahead of Jan Ullrich.

Lance's total time for the stage? 1 hour 11 minutes 46 seconds at a speed of 28.8 miles an hour over 34 miles throughout the central southeastern French countryside above the city of St. Etienne.

Armstrong's stage victory on Saturday was his first after three second-place finishes during the 2005 Tour. This widened his overall lead to 4 minutes 40 seconds over Ivan Basso of Italy, the leader of CSC.

Top 10 Man-Against-Man Stage 20 Time Trials

1) Armstrong, in 1:11:46
2) Ullrich, at 0:23 behind
3) Vinokourov, at 1:16
4) Julich, at 1:22
5) Basso, at 1:54
6) Landis, at 2:02
7) Evans, at 2:06
8) Hincapie, at 2:25
9) Mancebo, at 2:51
10) Karpets, at 3:05

2005 Tour de France Top Ten Cyclists Overall

1) Armstrong
2) Basso, at 4:40 behind
3) Ullrich, at 6:21
4) Mancebo, at 9:59
5) Leipheimer, at 11:25
6) Vinokourov, at 11:27
7) Rasmussen, at 11:33
8) Evans, at 11:55
9) Landis, at 12:44
10) Pereiro, at 16:04

Meanwhile, back in the states, David Letterman's Top 10 list is not Armstrong, Ullrich, Vinokourov, nor is it Armstrong, Basso, Ullrich...

Go to CBS.com for Letterman's July 21st Top Ten Lance Armstrong List. At least #10 is funny.

Comedian, actor and avid cyclist, Robin Williams could have easily come up with a better "Top Ten" than Dave on this one. Williams, who turned 54 on July 21st, is a friend of Lance's. Nice belated birthday present, Lance.

Discovery Channel Reporter, Dan Osipow

As Discovery Channel's in-the-field Dan Osipow reported in his exclusive post-stage podcast report:

It was just a marvelous performance by Lance.

He was dominant.

He was in control.

All those tiny turns, all those little towns he went through, he was masterful.

Again, a great day by the team, a really fantastic day by the team with George Hincapie in eighth and Yaroslav Popovych in eleventh.

Another great day for the American riders -- going 1, 4, 6 and 8, and then also 14. So, as Americans have done all year in time trials especially; just a banner day. So, now we've got Lance in first. We've got Popovych in twelfth place. We've got George in fourteenth. We've got Popovych with a 9:02 lead in the white jersey; that's locked up.

The team is going to finish second overall. We trail by almost fifteen minutes the T-Mobile team. But again, all that aside, just a commanding performance in Lance's last time trial of his career.

You could see how motivated Lance was. His children were with him at the start line. He was really enjoying having them there; a rare sight indeed for an athlete getting ready for the biggest race of the season, of his career, perhaps.

Armstrong Pedals To Stage 20 Victory - AP Photo

A professional racing career which began in 1992 ends by choice in France on Sunday.

In 1990, Greg LeMond was the last rider to win the Tour De France without a stage win. Armstrong was clearly determined to go home with one stage win. He chose a dramatic one to ensure he would not be like LeMond in 1990.

After Saturday's race, Armstrong said at a news conference:

It's nice to win, nice to finish my career on a high note.

As a sportsman, I wanted to go out on top.

Stage 22

Senator Kerry's hope to see Armstrong on a different podium pitching politics will have to wait. At this stage of his life, Lance has little desire to stay in the limelight, personally.

After his retirement party on Sunday, he said he needs peace and privacy. Lance said, "My intention is not to remain a public figure for the next few years."

Lance Shares His Victory with His Son, Luke & Family - AP Photo

Lance, his teammates and his competitors' ceremonial 144.5K ride into Paris along the River Seine, through the Champs-Elysees begins on Sunday bright and early. For those on the West Coast of America -- at 4:30am -- it will still be dark.

But our faces will be shining bright when Lance crosses that finish line and stands up on that podium having achieved a feat no one else in the world has ever achieved.

On June 24th 2005, many will be living vicariously through this one-of-a-kind champion, who has been a symbol of hope and inspiration around the world. I will be one of them.

2006 Tour de France

On OLNTV.com, at the time of publication 550 cycling enthusiasts had cast their vost at to who they believe will be Lance's successor in the Tour de France. Here are the current results:

Ivan Basso 51% - 284 Votes

George Hincapie 14% - 78 Votes

Levi Leipheimer 2% - 14 Votes

Jan Ullrich 9% - 51 Votes

Alexandre Vinokourov 8% - 44 Votes

Other Cyclist 6% - 36 Votes

Yaroslav Popovych 7% - 43 Votes

Inspired To Know More?

For further details on Armstrong's Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team, their photos and bios, along with a recap of the 2005 Tour de France, go to:

To learn about the winner of the 2005 Tour de France and his LIVESTRONG foundation supporting those battling with cancer, go to:

For a thorough and fabulous introduction to Lance and the Tour de France, check out:

The official Tour de France site can be found at:

Congratulations!

Congratulations Lance Armstrong and his 2005 Team Discovery mates:

Johan Bruyneel (the Discovery Channel's Tour de France Team Director);

Jose "the Ace" Azevedo (from Portugal, who took 5th place last year and was on Lance's USPS team);

Manuel Beltran (from Spain, who joined USPS half through 2003 but was injured in the Alps and had to retire from the 2005 Tour);

George Hincapie (from the U.S., who was with the USPS team a year before Lance joined in 1998, is the only rider who has been with Lance each of the seven times he has won it, and who may be one to carry Lance's torch next year);

Benjamin Noval (from Spain);

Pavel Padrnos (from the Czech Republic);

Yaroslav Popovych (from the Ukraine Republic, who finished the 20th Stage in 11th place entering the final stage in 12th overall, and who is considered by many as a possible successor to Lance as team leader);

Jose Luis Rubiera (from Spain, who rode for the USPS team from 2001-2004);

Paolo "Il Falco" Savoldelli (from Italy), who won the Giro d'Italia last month and the 17th stage of the 2005 Tour de France, and who is nicknamed "the falcon" because he is a fast downhiller both on skis and on a road bike;

Michael Barry (from Canada, who helped prepare Lance's victory ride multiple times);

Fumiyuki Beppu (from Japan, who has just gone pro this year);

Volodymyr Bileka (from the Ukraine);

Janez Brajkovic (from Slovenia - who does even officially turn pro until the end of the month);

Michael Creed (from the U.S., who was also on the USPS team last year);

Antonio Cruz (from the U.S.);

Tom Danielson (from the U.S.);

Tom Stijn Devolder (from Belgium, who was also the U.S. Postal Service team last year);

Viatcheslav Ekimov (from Russian, who, other than 1999, has been on the same team with Lance since 1998. Unfortunately, "Eki" was injured in April while training in Austin which prevented him for racing in the 2005 Tour de France);

Roger Hammond (from Great Britain);

Ryder Hesjedal (from Canada, who -- with a name like that was destined to "ride" professionally -- and has with Lance since last year);

Leif Hoste (from Belgium);

Benoit Joachim (from Luxembourg, who was on the USPS team from 1999-2004),
Jason McCartney (from the U.S.);

Patrick McCarty (from the U.S., who rode on the USPS team last year);

Gennady Mikhaylov (from Russia);

Hayden Roulston (from New Zealand);

Jurgen Van Den Broeck (from Belgium, who wore the USPS jersey last year);

Max van Heeswijk (from the Netherlands, who was a USPS teammate in 2003 and 2004).

Thank you OLN for your superb coverage of the 2005 Tour de France!

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "seven times strong" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC

Tour de France Tears for Rasmusson, Cheers for Lance Armstrong, Team Discovery 2005 & OLN