Barring a major mishap, positive drug test or somebody switching around directional signs like in that one episode of 'Scooby Doo', Alberto Contador will be standing atop the podium as the winner of the Tour de France this Sunday in Paris. Contador leads his closest challenger, Andy Schleck, by 2 minutes and 26 seconds. It's an almost insurmountable margin.

With Contadro's victory a virtual certainty, it might be tempting to ignore the Tour de France for the next four stages. But here are four remaining questions that should draw your attention of the next four days:

1) Can Lance Armstrong still earn a spot on the podium? Armstrong's chances of finishing in the top three were hurt today when he fell to fourth place overall after working to help his teammate, Contador and slipping behind the Schlecks. Lance is 2:18 behind third place, so he'll need to make up time in Thursday's time trial to have a spot at the second place finish he still says is within his grasp.

2) Astana drama. In Wednesday's Stage 17, Contador made a climbing attack and, in the process, dropped teammate Andreas Kloden. The move apparently wasn't approved by Astana director Johan Bruyneel (even though Contador suggested it was). Armstrong wasn't pleased either, Tweeting:

"Getting lots of question why AC attacked and dropped Kloden. I still haven't figured it out either. Oh well."

Before the Tour everyone wanted to know whether Armstrong would ride for Contador. It seems that he has. Contador, on the other hand, didn't seem willing to ride for Astana.

3) Who wins Thursday's time trial? Expect a four-man battle between Contador, Fabian Cancellara, Bert Grabsch and Bradley Wiggins. Cancellara won the 1st stage of the tour, while Wiggins has been a surprise out of Great Britain.

3) Is this the last we'll see of Lance? It's doubtful. Armstrong has said he plans on riding in 2010 and will announce the creation of a new American-based team on Thursday, one in which he'll be the featured rider. (Take that, Contador!) And while that seems like a certatinty, isn't not guaranteed that Armstrong will ride next year. Anything is possible (injury, talking to Brett Favre, suddenly getting the urge to follow Phish around the country,) so it's worth checking out the final few stages on of the off chance that we see the final rides of the most prolific champion in Tour de France history.