Armstrong surfs with Astana

Lance Armstrong helped Team Astana start its first training camp with an afternoon of surfing off the shores of the Spanish island Tenerife. The team, meeting for it first time in preparations for the 2009 season, completed a training ride and attended a surfing class yesterday.

"I have surfed a few times, in Hawaii and in Mexico. It is fun and a similar sensation to being on a bike, beginning with balance," said Armstrong to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The press has focused attention on the team since USA's Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner, announced he would make a comeback after retiring in 2005. He decided to reunite with his former team manager, Johan Bruyneel, at Team Astana.

The Luxembourg-registered team is staying at the five-star Las Madrigueras hotel in Tenerife. Armstrong and ex-girlfriend Sheryl Crow frequented the hotel in 2005.

The hotel is complete with its own 18-hole golf course. "Maybe I will play in the downtime between training," Armstrong said.

Yesterday, Armstrong announced he intends to race the Tour de France. He will race alongside 2007 Tour de France winner, Alberto Contador.

Cyclingnews' complete coverage of Lance Armstrong's comeback.