"The course was difficult, as you had a head wind. But we have big strong guys. They're not all the best time-trialers in the world, but when you put us all get together it's good enough," he added.
In 2002, the team placed 2nd, 16 seconds behind the winning ONCE outfit. This time the Postals won in 1 hour, 18 minutes and 27 seconds.
"In previous years we didn't win the time trial, and it was a really unhappy feeling at the dinner table. This time we just said, `Come on, let's do it, we've got to do this,'" Armstrong said.
Pena took the yellow jersey awarded to the Tour's overall leader because he was one second faster than Armstrong in the prologue, a sprint through Paris last Saturday.
Pena is the first Colombian to have earned the jersey in the Tour's 100-year history.
"I'll be the one wearing the yellow jersey, but this is a victory for the team -- it's one of the best teams that's ever existed in the world,'' Pena said.
The Postals won by 30-seconds over ONCE and had a 43-second gap over the third-placed Bianchi team. Both are squads with potential rivals to Armstrong.
After the time trial, 1997 Tour winner Jan Ullrich of Bianchi was 12th overall, 38 seconds behind Armstrong. ONCE's Joseba Beloki -- second overall last year -- was in ninth spot, 32 seconds behind.
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