PORTO VECCHIO, France, March 27, 2010 (AFP) – Seven-time Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong has played down his chances of winning the Criterium International staged on Corsica this weekend.

The Texan, asked whether he was here to win before the start of the first stage here on Saturday, said: “No. I don’t have the condition.

“I need more race days.”

He added: “The stuff we’ve done, it’s been more sporadic. Australia (Tour Down Under) seems like last year and Murcia also seems like a long time ago. I need more race days, this weekend, next weekend in Belgium…”

Armstrong said it was gonig to be tough rising to the challenge posed by Tor de France winner Alberto Contador, his former teammate and bitter rival.

“He’s on a high level right now.

“It’s easy to stand here and talk about following, it’s a different thing to be there on difficult climb and to follow. I’m not sure that anybody in cycling right now can follow, considering what we saw in Paris-Nice and in Portugal.

“This race suits him perfectly, considering the finish today and the time trial on Sunday.”