Lance Armstrong's first pro cycling race in 2009 could be Australia's Tour Down Under, known as the first stop on the world cycling calendar.
Race director Mike Turtur told the Sydney Morning Herald that Armstrong has told officials he'd like to compete in the six-day stage bicycle race across South Australia that rolls out Jan. 20 – 25, just four months away.
Perhaps we'll know more about Armstrong's schedule next Wednesday when he's expected to announce more details about his intentions.
Official tour operator
Interestingly, the Tour Down Under recently accredited a US tour operator for the first time to offer vacation packages to the race — Trek Travel. Do you think the company that has supplied bicycles to Armstrong is expecting a greater than usual interest in next year's 500-mile race from US bicycling enthusiasts?
There are no prices yet for the tour package to Australia offered by Trek Travel. They do ensure that participants will get to ride the official race course, including one full stage of the race just hours before the racers.
Another bonus, mentioned twice in their vacation blurb — possible backstage access to meet members of Team Astana.
Armstrong's team
Although we can probably count on Armstrong showing up in Adelaide on Jan. 18, there's been nothing official on his team. Sounds like Trek is banking on Astana, and they're probably right.
Astana looks like a good bet because of Armstrong's long-time association with Johan Bruyneel, the team's directeur sportif. The two big US-based teams, Team Columbia and Garmin-Chipotle, are probably out of the running.
Team Columbia's sport director Rolf Aldag has said he has not interest in bringing aboard the 37-year-old cyclist.
“Armstrong is a theme for all of cycling right now, but not for us,” he told CyclingNews.
And Garmin-Chipotle's boss, Jonathan Vaughters, was quoted at BBC recently that Christian Vande Velde is a better rider than Armstrong and can stop him from winning the Tour de France. Vaughters is a former teammate of Armstrong.
Tour Down Under schedule:
Sunday, 18 January – Rymill Park, Adelaide
Down Under Classic (51 km)
Monday, 19 January – Rest Day
Tuesday, 20 January – Norwood to Mawson Lakes
Stage 1 (140 km)
Wednesday, 21 January – Hahndorf to Stirling
Stage 2 (145 km)
Thursday, 22 January – Unley to Victor Harbor
Stage 3 (136 km)
Friday, 23 January – Burnside Village to Angaston
Stage 4 (143 km)
Saturday, 24 January – Snapper Point to Willunga
Stage 5 (148 km)
Sunday, 25 January – Adelaide City Council Street Circuit
Stage 6 (90 km)
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