Stage 18 is done. Lance is back in a potential podium finish. Nearly 4 minutes are tough to make up in a TT, but he did extraordinary work, as usual.

Peeps are grumbling about Contador’s rather immature move yesterday, isolating himself from Kloden (it probably didn’t matter to him that he also isolated himself from Lance). Talent, sure; brains, apparently not. Well, he’s still young and wild.

We’re looking toward Ventoux. Lance gave one stage win to Pantani on that mountain. He knows that mountain. So far, Contador has demonstrated wings on the climbs. Lance had those wings, once, too. Maybe he’ll shake them out.

Or, maybe he’ll just laugh at this Tour as being just a training run for 2010!

Tomorrow, Stage 19. This should be interesting.