PARIS - Lance Armstrong’s children were dressed in yellow. He was not. When the seven-time Tour de France champion returned to the Tour podium yesterday, his family was there. His fans were there. And so was rival and teammate Alberto Contador - wearing the coveted and hard-won yellow jersey. Four years after his seventh Tour win, Armstrong capped his return with an impressive third-place finish. He had his whole clan on hand - son Luke, twin girls Grace and Isabelle, his mom, Linda, and his girlfriend Anna Hansen, with their baby Max, sporting bright yellow shoes.

Alberto Contador all but sealed his second Tour de France title yesterday, keeping the yellow jersey after a punishing mountain ride in the next-to-last stage. And almost certain to join him on the podium is Lance Armstrong. Armstrong, a seven-time champion in his first Tour since 2005, held off attacks from his closest challengers in the dreaded climb up Mont Ventoux to hold third place. The 37-year-old Texan arrived in a small group that included Contador, his Astana teammate, and second-place Andy Schleck of Luxembourg.

AUBENAS, France - After three weeks and thousands of miles of riding, it all comes down to this: a soaring bald mountain in Provence where the Tour de France can be won or lost. The fabled and dreaded Mont Ventoux today provides a dramatic climax to Lance Armstrong’s comeback Tour - and teammate Alberto Contador is expected to keep the yellow jersey.

ANNECY, France - Alberto Contador all but assured his second Tour de France victory yesterday, winning the race’s final time trial while Lance Armstrong moved up one spot to third place. Contador, Armstrong’s Astana teammate and the 2007 Tour champion, increased his overall lead in the 18th stage in which cyclists rode against the clock on the 25-mile course in and around Annecy. The three-week race ends Sunday on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Spectators react as seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong climbs the Colombiere pass during the 105.3-mile 17th stage of the Tour de France. Armstrong dropped to fourth place in the overall standings. Alberto Contador prevailed through the mountains of the 17th stage, which many saw as the toughest stage of 2009. LE-GRAND-BORNAND, France—Alberto Contador closed in on victory at the Tour de France yesterday after finishing second behind Frank Schleck in the 17th stage as the race left the Alps.

SION, Switzerland—The tension with Lance Armstrong is all but gone in the crisp mountain air and the line of authority is clear. Now, Alberto Contador wants to concentrate on those teams intent on seizing his Tour de France lead. The Spaniard used yesterday’s rest day to lay out his plan of attack to keep the yellow jersey he won by capturing the first stage in the Alps a day earlier.

VERBIER, Switzerland—As a seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong recognizes greatness—teammate and rival Alberto Contador. The Spaniard dominated the first stage in the Alps to take the overall lead yesterday—his first chance to wear the yellow jersey since winning the 2007 Tour de France. Armstrong, who started the 15th stage in fourth, moved up to second overall but is 1 minute, 37 seconds behind his teammate and rival.

LIMOGES, France—Alberto Contador is playing down tensions between him and Lance Armstrong, a rivalry that has left a glaring unresolved issue at the Tour de France: Astana’s leadership remains in question while these former champions vie for the yellow jersey. Armstrong told French television on Sunday that relations with his Spanish teammate are strained after nine stages of cycling’s showcase race. Contador said during yesterday’s rest day in Limoges he has grown weary of the debate.