Bodog Beat

Lance Armstrong is still in a dogfight for another historical Tour de France win. (Wikimedia Images)

After three stressful flat stages marred by crashes, the Tour de France is heading back into the mountains.

Today’s ride features two difficult climbs as an appetizer for what’s shaping up to be a crucial Alpine stage over the weekend.

This will be where the rivalry between Astana teammates Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador will most likely fire back up.

After fighting hard in the Pyrenees, the seven-time champion and his younger challenger put their quarrels aside this week in the plains, leaving the headlines to British sprinter Mark Cavendish, who clinched two consecutive stage wins.

Despite a tire puncture on his way to Vittel, Armstrong remained in third place overall, eight seconds behind race leader Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy. Contador, winner of the 2007 Tour, is in second place, two seconds ahead of Armstrong.

On Thursday, Nicki Sorensen won the first stage of his Tour career by breaking away and finishing well ahead of Laurent Lefevre.