Armstrong's dream of Tour yellow over

Astana teammates Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador ride towards Verbier. The Swiss mountain proved to be the first true battleground of the Tour, with Contador coming out on top

Astana teammates Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador ride towards Verbier. The Swiss mountain proved to be the first true battleground of the Tour, with Contador coming out on top (Image credit: AFP)

When his younger Astana teammate, Alberto Contador, won Sunday's mountain stage to Verbier and assumed the overall lead, Lance Armstrong knew his hopes of winning the 2009 Tour de France were over.