"Fortunately, the crash happened 10 meters inside the final kilometer flag," Armstrong said.
It was a spectacular ride but he was caught in the final kilometer.
And Froome is left to take third as Rodriguez overtook him in the final kilometer.
But once the group saw the red flame that marks the final kilometer, it was Wauters who sped away.
Outside the red flag that marks the final kilometer, a rider who crashes receives his real time at the line.
Russia's Yevgeny Bezroutchenko surged into the lead in the final kilometer yesterday and won the men's 10-kilometer (6.2 miles) open water race by two seconds at the world swimming championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Armstrong said that he considered letting Heras try to win but that Beloki, who moved into second place overall, was with him in the final kilometer.
He attacked for victory inside the final kilometer, but 's Philippe Gilbert quickly closed the gap, effectively neutralizing the move.
In 12.9 km, this stage gained over 1000 m and featured a section with 24 percent gradients in the final kilometer.
The riders rode part of the final kilometer in Macerata twice before the actual conclusion of the race, though they only crossed the finish line once.
