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Uncertainty over his fitness and three years without racing have Lance Armstrong doubly nervous about his much-anticipated cycling comeback.
The record seven-time Tour de France champion referred to himself as “one man out of 200” on Monday ahead of next week’s Tour Down Under in and around Adelaide.
But he is The One Man of this year’s race.
Armstrong arrived in Adelaide late on Sunday night and had a four-hour training ride before fronting about 100 media for an hour-long press conference.
The 37-year-old cancer survivor had a security and police escort to the press conference, a sign of the special arrangements that race organisers have in place to cope with the massive public interest in his comeback.
Predictably, Armstrong talked down his chances in the January 20-25 Tour, saying he hoped to be in the mix.
He quipped that he might be the first rider dropped from the peloton – an horrific scenario for Tour organisers.
“I know I have questions about my personal condition, but I’ve worked hard to get in shape, I’ve worked hard to show up here and try to ride at the front,” he said.
“But when you’re one man out of 200 it’s strange how 199 other guys dictate how your day goes.
“I think it would be unrealistic to expect a victory.”
A more likely scenario is that Armstrong will spend the first couple of days in the Tour regaining his race fitness and then launch an all-out attack at least once on one of the climbs.
While Armstrong said most of the other riders in the field were also starting their seasons at the Tour, he must reacquaint himself with riding in the peloton.
“I have a little bit of insecurity and a little bit of nervousness there and so that’s the reason I’ve tried to train hard and prepare hard – I’m fairly fit,” he said.
“You have to consider cycling; it’s not just about your physical condition, it’s about 200 guys going down the road and going around dangerous corners at 40-50 miles an hour – and how does that feel?.
“That’s a dynamic that you can’t simulate in training, so I’ve got to get in the group.
“And those are the things that most people look at and think we’re nuts to do this.”
Armstrong says the main reason for his return to competition is to raise awareness for the fight against cancer.
He nearly died from testicular cancer in 1996, but won seven-straight Tours from 1999.
His Lance Armstrong Foundation has raised more than $US $US250m ($A360m).
“We’re reminded on a daily basis that this epidemic is truly a global issue – 22,000 people a day die from this disease,” he said.
“Hopefully in conjunction with a sporting comeback we can also raise a bigger issue and create greater awareness for this disease around the world.”
Armstrong will start training with his Astana team later this week.
On Monday, he rode with Australians Stuart O’Grady, young professional Jack Bobridge and Armstrong’s former team-mate Pat Jonker.
Armstrong trained in Hawaii’s heat before arriving in Australia and Adelaide’s temperature on Tuesday is expecting to climb above 40.
His racing comeback will start on Sunday with the Down Under Classic, followed by the January 20-25 Tour.
He plans to compete this year at the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.
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