IBanesto.com’s Russian climber Denis Menchov made his mark on the 54th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré on Tuesday, winning the toughest stage of this traditional Tour de France warm up, a 174 km race from Tournon to the top of Mount Ventoux. On top of his stage win Menchov took the overall lead from La Francaise Des Jeux’s Jacky Durand.

Menchov, the winner of the Tour de l'Avenir in 2001, took second place in the stage on Mont Ventoux in that race. On Tuesday, he and Spaniards Felix Garcia-Casas, Aitor Kintina Zarate and Una Osa were out in front of the race on the slopes of Ventoux when Menchov attacked with 6km to go.

Menchov didn't envision a stage victory, but was simply trying to improve his overall standing.

Behind, U.S. Postal’s Lance Armstrong was active on the climb, trying to shake off the small pack he was with.

Armstrong tried hard to shake his unwelcome company

Photo: Graham Watson

The American's attacks put time on a number of contenders, including Oscar Sevilla, who lost 16 seconds to Armstrong and finished ninth on the day, Richard Virenque, who finished 11th, and David Millar, 14th.

Armstrong finished seventh on the day, in a group with Andrei Kivilev and Aimar Zubeldia, with Christophe Moreau three seconds behind. U.S. Postal Service's Floyd Landis finished 10th, 1:42 behind Menchov.

American Jonathan Vaughters, who set a record on this climb during a time trial at the 1999 Dauphiné finished in 33rd place, 6:54 off the Menchov's pace.

Despite his win on one of Europe’s most difficult roads, the 24-year-old iBanesto.com rider said he had few illusions about his chances to hold the jersey going into a 41-kilometer time trial, with someone like Armstrong just 23 seconds behind him in the overall standings.

"I'm not one of the great time trial specialists,” said Menchov.

Copyright AFP2002