Lance Armstrong took what looks like an unshakeable grip on the yellow jersey in today's time-trial with a performance worthy of a man about to enter history by becoming the first cyclist to win a sixth Tour de France.
The American levelled the infamous slopes of the Alpe d'Huez, finishing over a minute ahead of his nearest rival to win his second stage of the 91st Tour.
The young Italian Ivan Basso was the only rider who could have harboured serious ambitions of overtaking Armstrong before Paris as he trailed him by one minute, 25 seconds this morning.
But Armstrong carved his superiority all over the race by surging past Basso, who had started two minutes ahead of him, before finishing a further 22 seconds ahead of the CSC rider.
With just one more mountain stage to come, tomorrow's route over the formidable Col de la Madeleine, Armstrong, if he stays on his bike, will go beyond the sport's immortals - Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain - in winning a sixth consecutive Tour.
Germany's Jan Ullrich produced a typically gritty ride to take second place on the stage in 40:42.49.
Ullrich's T-Mobile team mate Andreas Kloeden was third, 1:41 back, to boost his chances of overhauling Basso for overall second place.
Ireland's Mark Scanlon finished five minutes and 46 seconds behind Armstrong in 65th position and slips back one position in the overall classification to 91st.
Tour de France Stage 16:
1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) US Postal 39.41.450
2. Jan Ullrich (Germany) T-Mobile 1.01 behind
3. Andreas Kloeden (Germany) T-Mobile 1.41
4. Jose Azevedo (Portugal) US Postal 1.45
5. Santos Gonzalez (Spain) Phonak 2.10
6. Giuseppe Guerini (Italy) T-Mobile 2.11
7. Vladimir Karpets (Russia) Illes Balears Santander 2.14
8. Ivan Basso (Italy) Team CSC 2.22
9. David Moncoutie (France) Cofidis same time
10. Carlos Sastre (Spain) Team CSC 2.27
Leading overall standings (yellow jersey):
1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) US Postal 67:53.24
2. Ivan Basso (Italy) Team CSC 3.48 behind
3. Andreas Kloeden (Germany) T-Mobile 5.03
4. Jan Ullrich (Germany) T-Mobile 7.55
5. Jose Azevedo (Portugal) US Postal 9.19
6. Francisco Mancebo (Spain) Illes Balears 9.20
7. Georg Totschnig (Austria) Gerolsteiner 11.34
8. Carlos Sastre (Spain) Team CSC 13.52
9. Pietro Caucchioli (Italy) Alessio Bianchi 14.08
10. Levi Leipheimer (U.S.) Rabobank 15.04