Lance Armstrong, Tour Down Under 2010
Tour Down Under 2010: Armstrong in Adelaide photo gallery, by Graham Watson
Lance Armstrong joined his new RadioShack team-mates for a training run on the roads around Adelaide, South Australia, as they prepare for the season-opening Tour Down Under, which starts next week.
The seven-times Tour de France winner looked relaxed as he chatted to team-mates during the ride after touching down in Adelaide on Wednesday.
Already the Texan has been dominating the headlines in Australia, from 'backing' South Australia premier Mike Rann's re-election campaign to announcing a $250,000 package of aid from his LiveStrong foundation to earthquake stricken Haiti.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Armstrong said that he felt in much better shape than this time last year, when the Texan made his official comeback to road racing after coming out of retirement.
"I feel good," said Armstrong. "I mean I'm a little tired now because it's a long day, but physically, a little better than last year."
RadioShack is in the hunt for a stage win or two at the TDU with its Belgian sprinter Gert Steegmans - so we may be in for the spectacle of Armstrong heading up Steegman's lead-out train.
The 2010 Tour Down Under starts on Tuesday, January 19, and runs until Sunday, January 24. The stage race is preceded by the one-day Cancer Council Classic criterium in Adelaide on Sunday, January 17.
We will be covering the race in full here on www.cyclingweekly.co.uk, with daily stage reports and photographs from Graham Watson.
RadioShack's Daryl Impey and Lance Armstrong take to the road
Armstrong says that he feels better than at this stage last year
On the road again: Armstrong gets ready for the Tour Down Under
Related links
Armstrong in Australia: "I'm in better shape than last year"
Tour Down Under 2010: Preview
Tour Down Under 2010: Start list
Cycling Weekly's rider profiles
Reader comments
Add your comments
Darb
January 14 17:24
Love him or hate him..... He's a dude!
Ian Trendell
January 14 19:18
is it me or does he seem more determined than last year?? Go Lance, See you in Paris (I'll be there ,having cycled there myself from London for charity), when your standing with the Yellow Jersey for the 8th time!! That 'll show em all......
bored
January 15 07:29
He's not a dude, he's a self important bore. Frankly I can't wait until he retires again. The media's obsession with him is tedious in the extreme.
gas
January 15 12:33
stop press - Lance passes wind.
Dave
January 15 12:45
Just to be picky... the article is a litte innaccurate.........stating that he said that he felt "in much better shape than this time last year", only to contradict itself in the next paragraph by quoting his actual words..." a little better than last year." I may seem a little fussy but there is a significant difference between much and a little.
Ken Evans
January 15 18:02
Did he win any races last year ? Some other riders did. Why not give them as much coverage ? I thought he said he would be open about he blood test values etc ? His team internal anti-doping programme didn't materialise the way he claimed it would.