Armstrong endures the heat

As Lance Armstrong stepped out for a training ride with four vehicle Police escort for the first time on Tuesday, the mercury skyrocketed in Adelaide, South Australia. Armstrong went training with his Astana teammates for the first time since landing in Australia on Sunday while the temperature passed 40 degrees Celsius.

"Got up to 105 (Fahrenheit; 40.6 C) here today. Insanely hot," Armstrong wrote on his social networking page.

Armstrong did manage to escape the conditions later in the day as he stopped by a local hospital. The seven time Tour de France champion will attend a Cancer Council fundraising dinner at Adelaide Town Hall.

"Just stopped by Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital to see some survivors and staff there," he said. "They all inspire me so much."

The Texan believes he's in good shape for next week's Tour Down Under, but will need to adjust to racing again. The race will be Armstrong's first professional event since 2005 and help him prepare for this year's Giro d'Italia and Tour de France.

"I'm doing all right for an old man," he told the Ten network. "I feel like I've trained hard. The difference will be going from training pace to actually racing.

"No matter how much you train, the body has to adjust to that tempo," he said.

Armstrong finished off his third day in Australia with a tour of the local Penfolds winery. South Australia's Barossa Valley is home to some of Australia's top wineries.