FanHouse Fabian Cancellara

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- A split second off the lead with the mighty Pyrenees looming, Lance Armstrong now gets to see what his rivals can throw at him.

After mostly flat, wind-swept stages along the Mediterranean rim this week, the Tour de France enters mountainous terrain that has long belonged to climbers.

Armstrong remained just a fraction behind overall leader Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland on Thursday after a treacherous, rain-soaked ride filled with crashes. Thor Hushovd of Norway led a mass sprint finish to capture the 113-mile sixth stage from Gerona to Barcelona.

The field faces a 139-mile haul from Barcelona to Andorra on Friday with a grueling uphill finish, the first and hardest of three days in the Pyrenees.

"Tomorrow is an important day," Armstrong said. "I don't know if it's the most important day, but it's definitely a big appointment on this Tour."

MONACO (AP) -- Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong went out early and put up a solid time in the opening stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, then was upstaged by Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland.

Cancellara finished the 9.6-mile time trial in 19 minutes, 32 seconds, beating 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador by 18 seconds to capture the yellow jersey.