ADELAIDE, Australia, Jan 20, 2009 (AFP) – American Lance Armstrong said
Tuesday he was excited about the inauguration of US president elect Barack
Obama.

Launching his comeback from retirement here at the Tour Down Under,
Armstrong was given a surprise on Tuesday when Australian Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd showed up at the race.

Armstrong, who retired after his seventh consecutive Tour de France win in
2005, was met by the country’s premier after the first stage of the race which
finished in nearby Mawson Lakes.

Cancer survivor Armstrong, 37, has been promoting the first stage of a
global awareness campaign about the disease and met with top officials and
cancer specialists on Monday.

However he admitted it had been a special honor to meet the country’s
prime minister, with whom he talked about the imminent inauguration of Obama.

“We’ve never met, it’s an honor for me and the race that he came,” said
Armstrong.

“We talked about the inauguration, and the fight against cancer.”

Armstrong’s return to cycling, and his first appearance at the Tour Down
Under, has attracted huge interest in the country, the proof being that it is
the first time the country’s premier has graced the race with his presence.

Formerly close to American president George W. Bush, Armstrong has recently
said he is keen to see how Obama – America’s first black president – will take
the country forward.

But the cycling icon admitted he might have to watch Tuesday’s
inauguration, scheduled for 1700 GMT, early Wednesday morning on the internet
site Youtube.

“I’m at the Tour Down Under, I gotta sleep,” said the American, who said he
was excited about plans to watch proceedings.

“I can wake up in the morning and watch the whole thing. I’m excited, I
think everyone’s excited. He’s polling 80 percent approval ratings, I wish I
could poll 80 percent.”