Seeing Lance Armstrong (on television) mount the podium after his impressive third-place finish in the 2009 Tour de France reminded me of standing on the Champs-Élysées exactly four years ago watching him finish -- and win -- what would surely be his last appearance in this most grueling of athletic competitions. It was thrilling, well worth the day-long wait, to see all the riders hurtling around the turn near the Arc de Triomphe and to catch a glimpse of the man in the yellow jersey notching his seventh straight victory. It seemed a fitting way for the superstar and cancer survivor to head off into retirement. Now, of course, he's not only back but back with a vengeance. Here's a prediction for 2010: Armstrong (riding for Team RadioShack), Contador and Schleck back on the podium -- I'm not saying in what order. P.S. I thought the TV coverage on the Versus network this year was the best ever.