Lance Armstrong concentrating (Image credit: Mark Gunter)
Just prior to the Tour Down Under, Astana's Lance Armstrong spoke to members of the media in a press conference in Adelaide, Australia.
"I was looking forward to coming back," said Armstrong before participating in the first ProTour race of the season and his comeback. "It's part of the ProTour. This event has come a long way in the past ten years."
"I'm extremely motivated but extremely uncertain about how it will go," he said when questioned about his own chances of success. When asked if he would work for his teammates in races this season, he answered, "We've done a good job of compiling the greatest team in cycling. As I've said many times, I'll follow the laws of cycling." The seven-time Tour de France champion has no qualms about working for the strongest man on the team.
The buzz that has followed Armstrong upon his return has been even more than the American star was anticipating. "The attention has been more than I expected. It's good for cycling and the fight against cancer. It's good for all of the reasons I came back. Everybody's been very cool, and I've had no issues at all." He expressed appreciation that the media has given him some breaks, "Everyone's been fine when I need a little private time to relax."
Surprised as he may have been by the magnitude of the attention, Armstrong wouldn't change the attention his return is bringing to his purpose of raising awareness and money for the battle against cancer. "If I had to go out on a bike ride by myself verses a bunch of cameras following me, I'd probably choose the latter," he said.
