Armstrong blitzes to secure Stage 20

Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France's final time trial on Saturday, giving him the stage win he lacked and all but guaranteeing him a seventh consecutive -- and last -- Tour title to round out a stellar career.

Armstrong beat second-placed Jan Ullrich of Germany by 23 seconds in the 20th stage to extend his already comfortable race lead -- setting him up for a victory ride on Sunday's last leg into Paris, when the 33-year-old will retire.

Unlike his previous six winning Tours, the American this year had not won an individual stage -- before now.

Riding with an aerodynamic bike, helmet and suit to reduce wind drag and save seconds, Armstrong made easy work of the winding, hilly and crowd-lined 55.5km route that looped north of Saint-Etienne in central France.

Armstrong, as race leader, set out last of the 155 riders, his legs whirring, the yellow jersey on his back. He trailed Ivan Basso of Italy at the first time-check, but was leading at the second and stayed ahead from that point.

"Quite honestly, I wasn't absolutely sure I could do it," Armstrong said. "I thought Jan would be strong, and then when I got to the first check I saw that Ivan was seven seconds up and I thought, `Oh boy, this could be an interesting day.'"

"I ended up turning things around and winning," he said. "So, pleasant surprise."

He even overtook Denmark's Mickael Rasmussen, who had started out six minutes before him but had a disastrous ride on the tricky and technical route's sharp bends, fast downhills and tiring uphills.

"It's nice to finish your career on a high note," said Armstrong. "As a sportsman, I wanted to go out on top."

Armstrong's time was 1 hour, 11 minutes and 46 seconds, for an average speed of 46.4kph. His three children were at the finish to see him climb onto the podium and don another race leader's yellow jersey -- the 82nd of his career.

Only Belgian Eddy Merckx -- with 111 -- has won more.

The individual stage win was the 22nd of Armstrong's career. Eleven of those were time trials. Armstrong also won three team trials with his support riders.

Armstrong said he was retiring with "no regrets." Winning the Tour has brought him huge fame and fortune. "There's no reason to continue. I don't need more," he said.

"My time is up -- I don't crave attention."

Tears filled his eyes and his lips trembled as he mounted the podium. He pointed to his children and opened his arms. His five-year-old son Luke stood with his chest out, looking proud.

"He's good," said Luke.

Armstrong's rockstar girlfriend Sheryl Crow knelt at the foot of the podium with Armstrong's three-year-old twin daughters, Grace and Isabelle. Armstrong's mother Linda hugged his team director.

Armstrong said having children there was "a dream for me."

"I wanted to ride in today and ride into Paris in yellow for them."

On Monday, Armstrong is taking them on holiday in the south of France, the rest of his life ahead of him. Gaunt and tanned after three brutal weeks on French roads, Armstrong said he would go to the beach, drink wine, eat and "not worry about a thing."

At this Tour, he hammered his rivals from the first day in the opening time trial, finishing second well ahead of Ullrich and other top challengers. He built on his lead in the first day in the Alps and comfortably controlled the race from that point -- silencing doubters who questioned whether he still had the will and the legs to win.