Armstrong primed for return

Armstrong: nervous and excited

I just don't want to get clobbered too bad. That's my main motivation for training hard. I don't have any illusions.

Lance Armstrong
Quotes of the week

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Lance Armstrong is feeling nervous ahead of his return to competitive cycling at the Tour Down Under, starting in Adelaide on January 20.

The Texan, 37, retired in 2005 but decided to get back in the saddle in an effort to promote the global fight against cancer, a disease he survived prior to winning the Tour de France seven times in a row.

He arrived in Australia on Sunday evening amid a beefed up security presence, but took some time out to speak to well-wishers before being whisked away.

Asked if he was feeling any nerves, he said: "Definitely...not right now, but I will be in a week.

Excitement

"It is hard to compare because it has been such a long break and it has been the longest break I have had.

"It's both nervousness and excitement. I am excited to be here."

Armstrong, who will ride for the Kazakh-financed Astana team, believes he is in the best shape of his career at this stage of a season.

"I think (my fitness) is pretty good," he added. "Considering other Januarys, I'm probably ahead of where I would have been in other years.

"But I've been training a lot earlier than in previous years as well so I'm optimistic."

Clobbered

On his hopes for the eight-day race, he said: "I just don't want to get clobbered too bad.

"That's my main motivation for training hard. I don't have any illusions.

"I hope to get in the race and get re-aquainted to the tempo and the speed and what it's like to be around other Tour guys, a fast-moving group, and we will see."

Armstrong has committed to riding in the centenary edition of the Giro d'Italia in May before bidding for an eighth Tour de France win in July.