Cycling superstar Lance Armstrong will make one of the biggest comebacks in sporting history in Adelaide next year when he contests the Tour Down Under.
The seven-times Tour de France winner has confirmed he would race in the annual event in the South Australian capital, ending a retirement from professional ranks he announced in 2005.
The cancer survivor’s presence in the Tour Down Under has been touted the biggest sporting event in SA’s history and is expected to double revenue from the race.
“This guy is bigger than cycling in terms of what he has done,” Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur said.
“In terms of athletes, he’s a superstar of sport throughout the world.
“This is, to me, the biggest thing that has happened in sport in South Australia … he will have a massive pulling power.”
SA Premier Mike Rann expects Armstrong’s participation to attract as many visitors to the state as were attracted to Melbourne to watch the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Some 15,000 people visited Adelaide to watch last January’s Tour, and premier predicted that number would double because of Armstrong’s inclusion.
Mr Rann also expected the Texan’s presence to double the $17 million economic benefit provided to the state by the last Tour.
“This will be the biggest sporting event in South Australian history,” Mr Rann said.
“This is a big global event.
“What Lance wants to do is to use his comeback to really globalise his campaign to raise awareness and also raise funding for research into cancer prevention and cancer treatment.
“We will be very willing partners in that.”
Armstrong recently competed in two long-distance mountain bike races in the United States in preparing for a professional comeback aimed at winning an unprecedented eighth Tour de France.
“This is just a great way for him to start his preparation,” Turtur said.
“He’s going to get 15 or 20 days of good quality work on his bike and that is exactly what he is after.
“There is enough in this race in terms of difficulty to really be right up his alley.”
Armstrong survived testicular cancer in 1996 and won seven consecutive Tour de France events from 1999.
He announced his retirement from professional cycling after his final win in July 2005.
Armstrong competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, winning bronze in the individual road time trial.
He also had several Australians as team-mates during his professional career, including former Tour Down Under winner Patrick Jonker and highly-respected domestique Matt White.
Tour Down Under organisers had tried for several years to bring Armstrong to the race, either as a competitor or as a special guest.
While Armstrong’s entry means international interest in the race will skyrocket, many details of his comeback still remain sketchy.
He is scheduled to reveal more information later on Wednesday, at noon New York time.
Armstrong currently does not even have a confirmed professional team.
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