It is well known that a time trial especially at the end of a great race like the Tour de France is the barometer of how really strong and healthy is a cyclist...

Well Lance performance in today time trial it wasn't that bad (16th overall), but he was behind to many to tell that he is not stronger in this specialty...still he managed to be 3rd in the overall...

Contador in contrast won the stage, beating even that world champion of the specialty the Swiss Fabian Cancellara...that is a very bad sign for the future...Contador showed that he is not just the stronger on climbs, but also on trial time...

Lance's new team will be sponsored by Radio Shack...Lance should finish in the first 5 position in the overall in this Tour...if he stay in the podium it would be a remarkable result for someone who has been absent from race for more than 3 years...

So Lance will be back next year with the Radio Shack team...hopefully the music will be better for him...

As long Contador will be present in one of the great race - Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta Espana - everybody races for the second and third place...

Tomorrow finish might call for some little fight for gaining positions, and then over the Mont Ventoux the hierarchies in this Tour will be decided by this grueling and infamous mountains...

Many years ago I was there watching the great climber of the last 40 years struggling to stay with Lance...it was considered one of the best race of the last 15 years, with Lance making Pantani winning this prestigious stage...after the race the great Bernard Hinault said..."sorry Mr. Armstrong, but there no gift in this sport..." After the race, Lance publicly said that he made Pantani winning the stage even thoug he could have win it easely...

Next day at Courchevel, Pantani attacked at 16km of the end...after demolishing the resistence of Heras Pantani in a turn attacked again, and for the first time the great Lance Armstrong wasn't able to resist the climbing pace of Pantani...

It was a memorable day in the story of the Tour de France...the most recorded stage in the history of France television...and probably on of the sad day in the history of the cyclism...it was the last time that the little man from Cesenatico showed his talent as climber...

I attach the you tube video there...it was a memorable day...

He's likely heading for a podium finish in the GC.  He's responsible for increased viewership.  He's promoting a worthwhile charity.  He's shown that cancer can be beaten.  He's likely responsible for increased bike sales....and perhaps a reduction in health care costs (ok, that's a stretch, LOL)

Sure, it's doubtful he can win the TDF again, but he's good for the sport.  His only fault is that he couldn't keep Sheryl in the sack.  

Although Lance put in a good showing in this year's Tour, it is clearly the younger contendors like Alberto Contador, Andy Scheck and others who should occupy the podium next year.

I think with Lance and his juggernaut, it's about the money and continued exposure, which also benefits the Tour.