Seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is not considered one of
the favorites for Australia's Tour Down Under, fellow competitor Stuart O'Grady
said yesterday.
Armstong, who retired after winning the Tour de France in 2005, is making a
comeback with the Astana team at the Australian race from January 20-25.
He will also compete in the Giro d'Italia and the French race later in the
year to promote cancer awareness.
Armstrong, a native of Texas, is a cancer survivor.
O'Grady, who won the Australian race in 1999 and 2001, confirmed he would
ride for Danish team Saxo Bank in South Australia and said while he did not
think Armstrong would be a favorite, he would attract a lot of interest.
"He's definitely someone special and when you're riding around with someone
like that it's hard not to get taken in," he said in Adelaide.
"But I won't be concentrating on him. He's not going to be the big hot
favorite for the race.
"There's going to be a lot of other guys out there who are possible winners
before Lance.
"He's not going to be near the peak form he would be for the Tour de France."
