Armstrong used his experience to predict the Team Columbia attack [AFP]

Armstrong was the right man in the right place in the race, moving up at the expense of his Astana team leader Alberto Contador.

Armstrong moved up the front of the pack by the end of the stage and he was not surprised when Team Columbia suddenly accelerated to split the peloton in two.

All other favourites, including Spain's Contador, were trapped at the back of the peloton and eventually lost 41 seconds on the finish line.

Contador, fourth overall, now trails Armstrong by 19 seconds.

Experience counts

"Whenever you see a team lined up at the front like that, you have to pay attention," the 37-year-old Armstrong explained.

"You know what the wind is doing, and you see that a turn is coming up, so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that you have to go to the front."

"I was just trying to stay up front and stay out of trouble, and then it happened," added Armstrong.

Contador was the last man to be dropped, unable to follow the pace.

With no other big favourite in the front group, Armstrong's team mates Haimar Zubeldia and Yaroslav Popovych eventually helped Columbia widen the gap.

"We didn't ride for a long time, and then at the end we put some guys on the front to ride but the vast majority of the work was done by other people," said Armstrong.

"I have won the Tour de France seven times, why wouldn't we ride at the front? That makes no sense why you wouldn't ride."

Experience was another factor.

"Good positioning, experience, a little bit of luck. Just before that corner I was 20 guys back and I decided just that idea to move up enough to be on their wheel, and there it went," Armstrong said.

Asked whether he was tipped of the move by former lieutenant George Hincapie, now at Columbia, he said: ""No. They were on the front, but they were chasing the breakaway.

"It wasn't an attack, they were pulling back the break(away), they turned, they saw the wind, and they just accelerated.

"It wasn't as if it was an ambush - but they were already there. The only thing it was if anything was an acceleration."

Briton Mark Cavendish snatched the stage victory after 196.5 kms from Marseille to La Grande Motte .

Swiss Fabian Cancellara of the Saxo Bank team retained the overall leader's yellow jersey, finishing ahead of German Tony Martin and Armstrong by 33 and 40 seconds respectively.

Armstrong fans scrawl messages of support [AFP]

"I am not OK with that theory saying there can be only one team leader," said Armstrong.
 
"I have won seven Tours de France, I will have to be counted in."

Astana sports director Alain Gallopin said there would not be any problems within the team even though Armstrong has somehow upset the hierarchy.

"There are no troubles at all in our team, it's even the contrary," he said.

"If there had been Armstrong and (Saxo Bank's) Andy Schleck up front, that would have been a problem.

"There will be no problem tonight or tomorrow."

Contador said what happened on Monday was unlikely to change his fate.

"I do not want to comment on the tactics of the team," he said.

"Everyone can draw their own conclusions. Anyway, the Tour will not be decided with what has happened today. It's just a race incident."

Astana will ride a team time-trial on Tuesday and should they smash the competition, Armstrong could snatch the yellow jersey.

"Never say never," the American said.