This will be the last one.
When Lance Armstrong appears at the start line Saturday in Rotterdam, Netherlands, to start the 2010 Tour de France, it will be for the last time.
The last time he takes off on the three-week, 21-stage marathon cycling race that has defined his career; the last time he aims at climbing some of the highest mountains in the world; the last time he does a "race of truth" time trial; the last time he measures himself against the best in the world.
And this time Armstrong won't be the favorite.
That burden falls to Spaniard Alberto Contador, who is the defending champion and who was an uncomfortable teammate with Armstrong last year.
It also falls to brothers Frank and Andy Schleck from Luxembourg, extraordinary climbers and teammates on Saxo Bank; and even to Australian veteran Cadel Evans, who has as his lieutenant George Hincapie, the American who helped Armstrong to all seven of his Tour de France triumphs.
But even Contador doesn't count out the 38-year-old Armstrong.
"He is, for sure, one of the 10 or 12 who could win," Contador said at a news conference in Rotterdam.
Armstrong chose not to speak to most of the media from Rotterdam.
His RadioShack team did not do a news conference either, instead opting to pose for photographers and wave to the crowds.
Armstrong did speak to an Associated Press reporter and once again dismissed allegations from former teammate Floyd Landis that Armstrong, along with fellow Americans Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer and Dave Zabriskie, engaged in the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Jim Ochowicz, president of the BMC Racing team that will feature Evans and Hincapie, said his intelligence tells him Armstrong is a contender.
"The indications are Lance is in good form based on his performance at the Tour of Switzerland (where Armstrong finished second)," Ochowicz said. "Of course his understanding and performance in the Tour de France are second to none. … You can never underestimate his potential in a race like this.
"He has proven time and time again that he's prepared physically and technically for the courses. He has done reconnaissance. He will be competitive from Day One in Rotterdam to the finish in Paris."
Armstrong finished third last year, behind then-teammate Contador and Andy Schleck, when he was fresh off a nearly four-year retirement.
Earlier this week Armstrong said on Twitter this will be his last Tour.
"He's going to make it a very special farewell party, I'm sure of that," Versus announcer Phil Liggett said. "The scene is set for a very, very interesting race, and (an Armstrong victory), it's not absolutely out of the bounds of realization."
Liggett also suggested that if Armstrong is to make a mark on this race, he might have to do it early and before the mountain stages in first the Alps and then the Pyrenees come into play. Liggett is especially interested to see how Tuesday's stage, which includes eight sections of bumpy and dangerous riding on cobblestones, plays out.
"Armstrong loves this sort of racing," Liggett said. "I'm sure you'll see a lot of his team at the front for the first three days because I feel if he's going to have a chance of beating Contador and the Schlecks, he's going to have to hurt them in the opening week of the Tour.
"Guys like Contador, who's a specialist climber and time trial rider, he is going to be a very unhappy man for the first three or four days of the race."
Contador, Armstrong's former teammate and the strong favorite to win his third Tour in four years, played the diplomat Friday while Armstrong was keeping quiet.
Contador was quoted after last year's race as being critical of Armstrong's behavior as a teammate.
"It's obvious that last year's team, in terms of big names and experience, was a stronger team," Contador said at a news conference. "But I am very content with the team I have at this Tour.
"The unity of this team is what's most important. Not just during the race but after the stage as well. We're away from home four weeks, we're together 24 hours a day. We have to be able to get along."
That won't be a problem for Armstrong. He's part-owner of the RadioShack team.
On his last Tour de France chance, the team will work for one man.