Alberto Contador took the Tour de France leader's yellow jersey when he surged less than six kilometres from the finish line to win the 15th stage on Sunday.
In contrast, 37-year-old Lance Armstrong discovered that time was on his Astana team mate's side, as the seven times champion was unable to stay with the other favourites in the finale and finished one minute 35 seconds behind the victor.
Contador, third overall at the start of the stage, had already suggested in Tour's previous mountain top finish in Andorra that he was peerless in the climbs.
The 2007 champion confirmed the impression in the 207.5-km ride from Pontarlier with a blistering attack in the first big ascent of the Alps to win by 43 seconds from Luxembourg's Andy Schleck.
Italian Vincenzo Nibali was third while Armstrong finished ninth and is now second overall.
Britain's Bradley Wiggins lies third in the standings, nine seconds behind the American.