SION, Switzerland, (Reuters) – Lance Armstrong can  concentrate on winning the hearts of the French public after  team mate Alberto Contador asserted his authority on the Tour de  France by hammering the field in the first Alpine stage.

Armstrong’s dream of winning an eighth Tour vanished in the  last five kilometres of the ascent to Verbier on Sunday, when  Spaniard Contador flew solo to take the yellow jersey.

“I’m really happy, perfectly happy, to be a domestique. If  someone like Contador shows today, `Hey, I’m the best,’ you have  to accept it,” the 37-year-old American said.

Another Tour de France is now starting for Armstrong, a  rider who never been a popular figure in the country.

Armstrong is now in the position that one of France’s  cycling darlings, Raymond Poulidor, used to occupy — second  place.

Poulidor was known as ‘the eternal second’ after finishing  runner-up on the Tour three times and third on five occasions.

Now that his contest with Contador is over, Armstrong can  focus on his popularity on the Tour, a campaign which should be  a success.

Dozens of fans chanted his name by Astana’s team bus on  Sunday after the Texan took ninth place in Verbier. Hundreds of  them gather every day by the bus before the stage starts,  looking for an autograph, a handshake or even a look.

Armstrong, who fought testicular cancer before winning his  seven Tours, said he was riding this race to promote his  Livestrong foundation.

“There is probably a link with (former champion) Laurent  Fignon, who has just announced he had cancer,” said Tour de  France director Christian Prudhomme. “People are moved by that.

“And he is popular because he is more open. I have yet to  see a negative banner on the road.”

PERFECT POSITION
Livestrong have their place in the publicity caravan, with  young men and women distributing the charity’s yellow bracelets to the crowd.

“People say I’m not the same rider I was four years ago,”  said Armstrong. “They probably like that and it pleases me too.  It’s the best way to sum up the situation.”

Contador, back on the Tour after Astana were banned last  year because of their past doping record, is taking over on the  road.

The 2007 champion leads Armstrong by one minute 37 seconds  and looks ready to become one of the greatest Tour riders.

Already one of five men with one win in the Tour, the Giro  and the Vuelta, the 26-year-old Contador is in the perfect  position to triumph in France.

“A day like this shows who is the best,” said Armstrong on  Sunday.

Contador, shy in public, has been showing great authority on  the bike with a first attack in Arcalis 10 days ago — against  team plans — and a second one on Sunday.

“I am the team leader, now,” he said.

Double Tour winner Fignon, working as a television  commentator, said Contador could dominate stage races for a  while.

“He is very good in the time trials and nobody can follow  him in the mountains, so he is set to rule for quite some time,”  said the Frenchman, who won the Tour in 1983 and 1984 as well as  the Giro in 1989.