Armstrong crossed the line a half a bicycle length ahead, a smile on his face and his arms spread wide.

He suggested keeping the cyclist in front of you at a distance of at least one bicycle length for every five miles of speed.

Boogerd won by a couple of bicycle lengths and was timed in 5 hours 5 minutes 38 seconds, a rapid average of 25 miles per hour.

In second was Stephen Roche, an Irishman with Carrera, a bicycle length behind.

Commesso finished first by half a bicycle length in 6 hours 8 minutes 15 seconds for the 246.5-kilometer (153-mile) 18th of 21 stages.

Cipollini, the star Italian sprinter for the Saeco team, was way ahead of the accident - about two bicycle lengths ahead of everybody, in fact.

His most pesky challenger remains Chiappucci, who finished fifth, a bicycle length ahead of Indurain.

Backstedt accelerated from fourth position and passed everybody on the right, winning by a bicycle length.

Peter Wrolich finished second Monday, nearly two bicycle lengths behind.

Second was Hernan Buenahora, a Colombian with the Kelme team, a bicycle length behind in the same time.