An awesome performance by Lance Armstrong today at Stage 12 of the Tour de France, putting a major hurt on his main rivals and finishing right behind stage winner Ivan Basso, on a day of serious climbing: Stage 12: Lance now second.

LA MONGIE, France — Lance Armstrong took a big step toward a record sixth straight Tour de France crown on Friday by surging past key rivals on the first climb in the Pyrenees.

The Texan moved from sixth to second in the overall standings following a ride in which he was runner-up to stage winner Ivan Basso of Italy.

Jan Ullrich, Tyler Hamilton, Iban Mayo and Roberto Heras were among the pre-Tour contenders whose hopes of dethroning the five-time champion faded as Armstrong powered up the ascent ahead of them.

Ullrich, the 1997 Tour winner, lost 2 minutes, 30 seconds to Armstrong — a major setback. Hamilton gave up 3:27 while Heras was 2:57 behind.

“I could tell he [Armstrong] was going to strike a big blow,” said French rider Richard Virenque, who was 3:27 behind. “He stunned the favorites.”

Armstrong’s merciless performance on the ascent to the La Mongie ski station showed he will be hard to beat.

And here’s a story that’s sure to make Sheryl Crow hiccup: Bush Optimistic for Cyclist Armstrong.

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE - President Bush predicted Friday that Lance Armstrong will win the Tour de France — and added with a smile that he will triumph in his own race for re-election.

Bush fed his new passion for bicycling by watching the tour on Air Force One’s TV screens, rooting for fellow Texan Armstrong during a punishing stage through the Pyrenees mountains. Asked by The Associated Press whether he thought Armstrong would pull off a record-breaking sixth straight tour win, Bush flashed two thumbs-up.

“He’s going to win and I’m going to win,” Bush said en route to Florida and West Virginia — two critical states in re-election campaign. “There’s no need to worry about either race any more,” Bush said with a wave of his hands and a grin. …

Bush has been following the July 3-25 race since it started, said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.