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Lance Armstrong has had his first acquaintance with the furnace-like heat that often defines the Tour Down Under.
The record seven-time Tour de France champion had a four-hour training ride in and around Adelaide on Tuesday with his Astana team-mates.
“Got up to 105 (41 degrees) here today. Insanely hot,” Armstrong reported on his Twitter page.
But Armstrong did not look unduly affected by the heat, two days after his arrival.
He also prepared for the Adelaide summer by having a post-Christmas training camp in Hawaii before flying to Australia.
“It helps that it’s dry and we’re taking it pretty easy today,” the 37-year-old told Channel Ten.
“I’m doing alright for an old man.
“I feel like I’ve trained hard, as I’ve said, and the difference will be (in) going from training pace to actually racing.
“No matter how much you train, the body has to adjust to that tempo.”
Police cars and support vehicles shadowed the seven-rider team on their training ride.
Armstrong exchanged his “Livestrong” kit for Astana’s sky-blue colours as he trained for the second time since arriving in Adelaide late on Sunday night.
Armstrong is making his much-anticipated comeback to top-level cycling at the Tour Down Under, more than three years after his last Tour de France win.
He says the No.1 reason for his comeback is to help publicise the fight against cancer.
Armstrong nearly died from testicular cancer in 1996 and then made an amazing comeback, winning his first Tour de France three years later.
On Friday, he will be the special guest at an exclusive dinner for about 50 guests at the Adelaide Town Hill.
Tickets were $2500 each and the function will raise funds for the Tour’s charity, Cancer Council SA.
Armstrong also posted an internet note on Tuesday that read: “1274 days w/o (without) a pro race. Roughly 27.5 million people globally have passed away from cancer in that time. Has to stop.”
After his training ride, he wrote: “Just stopped by Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital to see some survivors and staff there.
“They all inspire me so much.”
Armstrong’s racing comeback starts on Sunday night with the Cancer Council Classic, a one-off street race just outside the Adelaide CBD.
The Tour runs from January 20-25 and Armstrong says he does not have the form to win.
But given Armstrong’s fierce competitive streak, he is likely to launch at least one serious attack during the Tour.
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