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Stage 18 video preview with complete Tour de France Stage 17 results

Here are a couple of important questions that will be answered after the individual stage 18 40-kilometer (24.8-mile) time trail around Lake Annecy.

- How much time can Bradley Wiggins make up on the current leaders?

- Can Lance Armstrong claw back enough time to get back on the podium?

Inside the Tour: 341 miles of racing left before Paris

ANNECY, France — Unlike in many recent years when the final individual time trial either determined the Tour de France winner or solidified the pending winner's position, stage 18 this year doesn't carry the same significance.

And with Alberto Contador (Astana) of Spain increasing his lead to 2 minutes and 26 seconds in stage 17, the 40-kilometer (24.8-mile) route around Lake Annecy will likely have even less status than anticipated.

Inside the Tour: Lance Armstrong to return next year to TdF with new team

LE GRAND BORNAND, France — Lance Armstrong will return to compete next year in the Tour de France for a team co-sponsored by American-based companies.

Armstrong, who finished fifth Wednesday in stage 17 and fell from second to fourth overall, confirmed Tuesday night what has been rumored since May when reports of the new team began at the Tour of Italy.

Tour de France 2009 stage 17 results and standings Contador keeps yellow Armstrong slips to fourth

Stage 17 of the Tour de France was all about the Schleck brothers.

Andy and Fränk Schleck (Lux Team Saxo Bank) worked together to try to grab the yellow jersey away from team Astana and in the process grabbed a win for Frank Schleck.

On the last climb of the day both brothers took turns trying to breakaway from Alberto Contador, but in the end only managed to pull the Spanish rider away from his competition and into a stronger overall first place.

Stage 17 video preview with complete Tour de France Stage 16 results

Tic Tic Toc!

The days and stages are quickly running out for the riders on the Tour de France that have any hopes of getting or staying on the podium.

Stage 17 is another opportunity for the overall GC contenders to make their mark on this year's tour.

Jens Voigt crash in stage 16 is not life threatening according to his team

A statement releases by Jens Voigt team (Saxo Bank) after his stage 16 crash  states that the veteran rider is alert and conscious after hitting the pavement at 70Km.

 "An examination at the University hospital in Grenoble this evening has initially given positive reports on Jens Voigt's health after the nasty crash during today's stage of Tour de France. He has incurred a fracture of the right cheekbone and a concussion. For now he is staying at the hospital for further observation.

Inside the Tour: Stage 17 the toughest stage is ready to rock the riders

BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE, France — Every Tour de France seemingly has a stage that doesn't necessary appear via its profile like the most difficult, but nonetheless the stage riders discuss the most.

The designation this year is stage 17 on Wednesday, a 169-kilometer (105-mile) journey that starts from the village that combined with Les Arcs is part of the huge ski resort. It ends in another major winter sports resort, Le Grand-Bornard.

Tour de France 2009 stage 16 results and standings Contador keeps yellow as Spaniard Mikel Astarloza wins

Another day in the mountains brought some much needed drama to stage 16 of the Tour de France.

Spaniard Mikel (team Astarloza) won the 159km stage with his first victory of the year.

But while the top 5 leaders remain unchanged there was potential drama on the mountain when the two Schleck brothers put the hammer down and a lot of top riders went out the back of the pack including Lance Armstrong.

Training for the 2010 Tour de France starts today!---Levi Leipheimer

Back at home in the United States, Levi Leipheimer is wasting no time getting ready to race the 2010 Tour de France.

Leipheimer posted this photo on twitter today along with writing, "Training for the 2010 Tour de France starts today!"

Inside the Tour: If and when Lance Armstrong leaves Astana

LE CHABLE, Switzerland  — Since the Tour of Italy in May, the rumor of Lance Armstrong establishing a team of  all American riders with a goal to compete in the 2010 Tour de France on an American-sponsored team has steadily built credibility.

The most prevailing theory is that later today during the second and last Tour de France rest day, Armstrong, his long-time friend and team director Johan Bruyneel, and an assorted cast of Nike and Livestrong representatives will announce the new squad.

Stage 16 video preview with complete Tour de France Stage 15 results

While Monday is a rest day at the Tour de France, Stage 16 a 160-kilometer (99.4-mile) from from Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, promises to be another epic battle as the stage features another hors categorie (the most difficult) climb of the race.

The reaming 162 riders will have to tackle the highest point of this year's Tour...the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard peaks at an elevation of 8,114 feet.

Inside the Tour: Alberto Contador takes control of the race

VERBIERS, Switzerland  — Alberto Contador (Astana) of Spain took control of the Tour de France in stage 15, powering away to a 43-second solo mountaintop victory Sunday before a huge crowd packed into the tiny ski village in the Swiss Alps.

Contador left a group that included his Astana teammates Lance Armstrong and Andreas Kloden with about three miles left in the 207-kilometer stage from Pontarlier that end with a six-mile ascent in 5 hours, 3 minutes and 58 seconds.

Tour de France 2009 stage 15 results and standings Contador grabs yellow as Armstrong slips

Stage 15 was the battle on the mountain that everyone expected and hoped for, and when it was all over Alberto Contador proved that he had the legs to attack while Lance Armstrong slipped in the general standings over a minute behind Contador.

At the finish line it was Armstrong 1.34 behind his Spanish teammate but still in second place overall.

Stage 15 video preview with complete Tour de France Stage 14 results

Stage 15 of the Tour de France promises to be an interesting one as the riders must cover 206km before a mountain top finish at Verbier.

Verbier is located at 1468 meters above sea level and the stage 1 climb before the end of the day's racing promises to either make a hero out of any rider who can break and stay away, or real battle for the GC position for the top placed cyclist.

Inside the Tour: Is Levi Leipheimer's fractured wrist a season ender?

Following Levi Leipheimer's departure from the Tour de France prior to stage 13 with a twice fractured right wrist suffered in a late race crash in stage 12, the Astana rider from Santa Rosa, Ca., speculated on when he might return.

“Usually after the Tour de France, my season is almost over; I only do one or two more races,” said Leipheimer “So, I don't know. Maybe the Tour of Missouri?"

Last year, Leipheimer didn't compete in the Tour de France (His team wasn't invited). Instead, Leipheimer finished second in the Tour of Spain in September to teammate Alberto Contador.

Stage 14 video preview with complete Tour de France Stage 13 results

A classic sprinters finish on a wide avenue is the best way to describe the finish of stage 14 of the Tour de France.

The 199-kilometer (123.6-mile) stage from Colmar to Besancon looks like another day for the sprinters to have their day.

"Besancon has hosted a Tour de France stage finish 17 times, but not since 2004 when Lance Armstrong won the race's last time trial en route to his sixth overall title.