Lance Armstrong could make his road-racing comeback in Australia's Tour Down Under in the New Year.
Seven-times Tour de France winner says race is "obvious choice"
Lance Armstrong could make his road-racing comeback in Australia's Tour Down Under in the New Year.
The seven-times Tour de France winner announced he was coming out of retirement earlier this month in an effort to not only become the oldest winner of the event but to also raise awareness of cancer.
And, in an e-mail to the
Sydney Morning Herald, Armstrong, who turned 37 on Thursday, indicated he might contest the Tour Down Under as the first step on his road back to competitive road-racing.
"The most important issue is taking the global epidemic of cancer really to a much bigger stage," said Armstrong, who fought back from testicular cancer to score the first of his Tour wins in 1999.
"The best way to do that is to race the bike all over the world. So you race in Australia, South Africa, South America, Europe, America - that is the first priority."
When asked if he had singled out the Australian event as his comeback race, Armstrong replied: "I have no clear answer for you. My aim is to race all over, where there are willing and supportive governments with regards to enacting cancer policy.
"Australia seemed liked an obvious choice, but I have no plans (yet) to come."
Announcement
Speaking on Thursday, Tour Down Under organiser Mike Turtur denied reports that Armstrong had already committed himself to the race, which runs from January 20 to 25.
"We have had no official word from the Armstrong camp. We, along with everyone else, are waiting for his announcement (next Wednesday)," Turtur said.
"We have contacted his management asking what their thoughts are. Their response was that they are going to discuss internally their program and will get back to us as soon as possible.
"There has been nothing more than that. There has been no commitment."
