by Justin Davis

Seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will make his long-awaited comeback here next week after a 50km criterium serves as an appetizer for the 2009 Tour Down Under.

Armstrong has chosen this comparatively low key six-day stage race, held around southern Australia, as his comeback event after a three-year absence from the sport.

Underpinning this decision is his aim to ride as many quality races as
possible before this summer’s double challenge of the Giro d’Italia and the
Tour de France.

However it is also his aim to promote awareness — globally, through his
Livestrong foundation — on the dangers of cancer.

When the 37-year-old cancer survivor saddles up on Tuesday he will bring
and end to 1274 days of not competing in a UCI (International Cycling Union)
sanctioned event.

That number, 1274, has been painted on Armstrong’s Astana team bike, and
another painted number, 27.5, refers to the number of people — in millions –
said to have died from cancer since he retired in 2005.

All eyes will on the American when he saddles up for Sunday’s 50km city
criterium, which has no bearing on the race standings, and even more so on
Tuesday’s first stage over 140km from Norwood to Mawson lakes.

But despite Armstrong claiming to be in the best ‘January form’ of his
life, he is not expected to be a challenger for overall victory in a race
which has traditionally provided the peloton with an early season test of
their form.

Former US Postal and Discovery Channel teammate George Hincapie said: “I
just think he (Armstrong) is wanting to get back into racing, and what better
venue to start, in south Australia in this kind of weather.

“He hasn’t raced in a long time and I think he just wants to get in as many
quality races as he can right now.”

The relative depth in quality of the field — which includes two-time
winner Stuart O’Grady and fellow Aussie Michael Rogers, the 2002 champion –
should make for a quality race.

A host of younger, less experienced riders will also be keen to display
their professional credentials on home soil — a desire likely to be boosted
by the presence of cycling’s biggest star of the past 20 years.

“I think it will be hard,” added Hincapie. “It’s a Pro Tour race, there’s a
lot on the line.”

Nevertheless, organizers have been forced to re-jig the course in a bid to
toughen it up.

Now in its 11th year, last year’s edition came under scrutiny after German
Andre Greipel, a sprinter, won four stages — and the overall classification.

This year two of the race’s six stages — stage two and five — have been
made significantly tougher, with added climbs that should, on paper, eliminate
contenders and make the race lead tougher to protect.

Greipel admitted it was a “strange” experience to be crowned champion last
year, but he doesn’t expect a repeat.

“It was strange, but I also had the whole team working for me after I took
the lead. It’s as much their victory as mine. This time I think I’ll end up
supporting someone else from my Columbia team,” he said.

In theory Armstrong and Astana have the tools to take and protect the
overall lead, though so do Columbia, Team Saxo Bank (formerly CSC) and pretty
much any other team that takes the leader’s jersey early and fights to keep it
over the relatively short stages.

Despite its Pro Tour status, awarded last year, the race’s six stages
average out at just 133km in length – well short of the 180-220 kilometres
usually raced on the tougher, three-week Major Tours.

Photo by: CorVos Pro