by Ryland James

ANNECY, France, July 23, 2009 (AFP) – Lance Armstrong admitted suffering during Thursday’s time trial in the Tour de France, but says his aim now is to defend his third place overall in Saturday’s climb up Mount Ventoux against Andy Schleck.

Armstrong finished the time trial around Lake Annecy in 16th at 1min 30sec behind stage winner Alberto Contador, his Astana teammate and the yellow jersey-holder.

The American’s main rival for second place is now Saxo Bank’s leader Schleck.

Armstrong, who has won the Tour seven times, is 5:25 behind the Spaniard overall, while second-placed Schleck is at 4:11.

And Armstrong says the battle for second could well be decided on Saturday’s 21.1km climb up Mont Ventoux.

“I want to protect my position with Andy climbing so well, I just have to watch for the moves and don’t let him get away,” said Armstrong.

Having started Thursday’s time trial well, Armstrong tired on the 2.5km climb, which began near the 26km mark, while Contador blitzed the course to take complete control of the race and is set to be in the yellow jersey on the Champs Elysees on Sunday.

Armstrong said the exertion of Wednesday’s five challenging climbs from Bourg Saint Maurice to Le Grand Bornand on the 17th stage had taken its toll.

“I suffered. I probably started too hard and maybe I was just empty from yesterday and those cramps I suffered at the end of the stage,” he said.

“I felt good at the beginning, I felt smooth, but there was a tail-wind, so maybe everyone felt good. I just wasn’t that strong on the climb, maybe the end result was good in terms of the general classification.

“I have mixed emotions, 16th in a time trial is not a good result, but my ambition is to get on the podium, so I have to be happy with that.”

It was a busy day for Armstrong on Thursday after it was announced he will race for Team Radioshack in next year’s Tour with a new American Pro-Tour cycling team being formed.

Armstrong will race for his new outfit as a cyclist, runner and triathlete.

Armstrong, who successfully battled cancer in 1998 to return to cycling and win the first of seven consecutive yellow jerseys in 1999, said the fight against the disease through his Livestrong Foundation would remain a priority.