Lance Armstrong (Astana) makes his way to the start of stage 14(Image credit: Sirotti)
Astana teammates Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador ride towards Verbier. The Swiss mountain proved to be the first true battleground of the Tour, with Contador coming out on top(Image credit: AFP)
Andreas Kloden and Lance Armstrong ride together(Image credit: Sirotti)
Lance Armstrong (Astana) leads Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) on the final climb.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Lance Armstrong (Astana) looked spent at the finish(Image credit: Sirotti)
Lance Armstrong (Astana) takes a turn at the front.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Lance Armstrong descends the Col des Saisies.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Lance Armstrong (Astana) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) shake hands after a hard day of racing.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Lance Armstrong riders near yellow jersey Alberto Contador on the Côte d'Araches. David Millar (Garmin-Slipstream) rides in front of teammate Bradley Wiggins.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Lance Armstrong (Astana) is cheered to the summit of the Col de la Colombière.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Lance Armstrong (Astana) spies a Texas flag on the Col de la Colombière.(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Lance Armstrong chats with Diquigiovanni manager Gianni Savio prior to the start of stage 17.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Cool as a cucumber: Alberto Contador (Astana) speaks to Lance Armstrong (Astana) on the way up Mont Ventoux(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Alberto Contador (Astana) leads Lance Armstrong (Astana)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Astana teammates Lance Armstrong, Yaroslav Popovych and Alberto Contador enjoy a well earned tipple(Image credit: AFP)
Lance Armstrong (Astana) congratulates Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) as Alberto Contador looks on(Image credit: Sirotti)
A new Tour experience for Lance Armstrong as he stands next to the top step of the podium(Image credit: Sirotti)
Lance Armstrong (Astana) leads Alberto Contador (Astana)(Image credit: Sirotti)
Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank), Alberto Contador (Astana) and Lance Armstrong (Astana)(Image credit: Sirotti)
It was never likely to be a quiet return to the race that Lance Armstrong won seven times in succession. Few could have expected, however, the drama that has played out since Armstrong rolled down the start ramp of this year's Tour de France in Monaco on July 5.
It took three days of racing for evidence of a power struggle between Armstrong and teammate Alberto Contador to emerge - a few more days for it to be confirmed - and just 5.7km on a Swiss mountain for it to all but come to close.
Astana polemics aside, three years out of the sport and at the end of stage 16 he's holding onto second place in the Tour. No matter which way you slice it, Armstrong has had an incredible return to France.
Click here to view images of Lance Armstrong's Tour de France
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