Spanish media predicted on Monday that Alberto Contador's seizure of the yellow jersey in the Tour de France over the weekend hailed the end for Astana teammate Lance Armstrong, a seven-time winner of the cycling race.

"Contador marks the end of Armstrong," reported top-selling daily newspaper El Pais which published a photo of the smiling 26-year-old Spanish rider as he pulled on the yellow jersey which he had not won since his Tour win in 2007.

The newspaper stressed that Contador now leads Armstrong by one minute and 37 seconds, underlining the fact that the American "could not match (Contador's) uphill rhythm".

"Contador strikes down Armstrong in the Alps," said rival daily El Mundo on its front page while conservative daily ABC headlined "Contador buries Armstrong."

"Once again without a team, he does everything on his own to retire the American myth and gain the lead of the race," the newspaper added.

Contador took the yellow jersey after a solo attack on Sunday during the first Alpine stage of the race from Pontarlier, France, to the Swiss ski resort of Verbier.

"His faraway attack sinks Armstrong, gives him the yellow jersey and puts an end to the 'Apartheid' within Astana," wrote daily newspaper Publico, in a reference to Armstrong and Astana manager Johan Bruyneel.

"The road has put each rider in his place," said sports daily Marca.

Armstrong indicated after Sunday's stage that it would now be difficult for him to aim for an eighth Tour crown.

"I think after today he demonstrated he is the strongest in the race. I thought I'd feel a little bit better, I didn't. There is no point messing around. I gave everything I had and I wasn't the best," he said.

AFP

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