Armstrong previews another time trial

Armstrong previews 2009 Tour de France time trial

Armstrong previews 2009 Tour de France time trial (Image credit: John Pierce)

After riding the Giro d'Italia's long individual time trial earlier in the week, Lance Armstrong turned his attention to the Tour de France's opening time trial yesterday in Monaco. The seven-time Tour winner plans to race the three-week race this year, July 4 to 26, as part of his comeback to cycling.

The time trial will be a challenging start to the Tour, with part of the route taking the riders up the coastal hills and into the hills of Monaco. There are several steep climbs, which included gradients of 10 percent.

Armstrong may preview the Giro time trial again next week, as well as some of the mountain stages of the Italian Grand Tour.

Next Saturday, March 21, he will line up for his first race in Europe since the 2005 Tour de France, Milano-Sanremo.

Jacques Anquetil, a five-time Tour winner, was the last rider to win a stage in Monaco. He won stage nine of the 1964 race, Briançon to Monaco.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1