Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has had a rather quiet start to his 2010 season, but that's nothing new for the man from Austin, Texas.
Armstrong is accustomed to having his form roll into shape by the beginning of July, but could this year be different? At almost 39 years of age, Armstrong is finding it tough going competing against a breed of cyclists 15 years younger.
After opting to skip the Giro d'Italia currently going on in Europe, Armstrong is in California competing in the 5th Annual Amgen Tour of California.
"There are days I have doubts," Armstrong told ESPN's Bonnie Ford last Saturday on the eve of the start of the ATOC. "I'm hopeful that (my form) gets better, but I am a rider that a lot of times hasn't had a lot of doubts, and sometimes there are days I have doubts, to be honest."
Earlier in the day, Armstrong assessed his form leading up to the ATOC.
"Personally, I have struggled a little to find the condition that I'd like," he told Velonews. "There have been moments where I thought it was getting better, but then I've had physical or health issues that came along and complicated things. I'd like to think that we're heading in the right direction now, and this race is an opportunity to test yourself."
Lance's preparation for the season took a wrong turn after he developed the "worst stomach virus of his career" after the Tour of Flanders in early April. He was forced to skip several European races and return to the States.
He later competed in the Tour of the Gila stage race in New Mexico, but admitted he was behind in his Tour de France preparation.
As for the this year's ATOC, things seem to be going as planned for Armstrong. If Monday's rain-soaked stage with three categorized climbs is any indication, Armstrong may be on the upswing with his form.
A select group of 27 riders made it to the finish in Santa Rosa together, and Armstrong was one of them. Although the real racing is yet to come -- including Friday''s queen stage with 12,000 feet of climbing in 135 miles and Saturday's time trial in Los Angeles -- Armstrong has to be satisfied thus far.
Currently he sits in 18th place overall, just a scant 10 seconds behind race leader Brett Lancaster.
We'll learn a lot in the coming days about whether Armstrong has any chance at the Tour de France in July. He'll either be a Tour contender or a rider on his last legs.
Comments
What's wrong with Lance? Huh? No mention of the fact Andy Schleck is 16 minutes behind and Fabian Cancellera is 31 minutes behind.
ride hard buddy! ride for the freedom of the spin!
semper fi
Where is Mr Lance Armstrong?? Well at or near the front at every stage in the race ... thus far ... who knows what will happen in Big Bear, with a gut wrenching 12k+ climbing over 135mi (are you serious??), but if the Author here or ESPN has bothered watching the race thus far .. its tough to miss Lance at the front in nearly every camera shot.
I hope he does well and stays near the front up Big Bear. He's an American Icon whose last legs may be stronger than any in the World ...
Are you serious??? I think it's very obvious that when the author said, 'Where are you, Mr. Armstrong,' he meant it from the standpoint of where his preparation for the Tour de France is, not where he is on camera. We obviously all see him on camera. We weren't born in the stone age.
Have you noticed that Lance has never actually said the words, "I have never taken performance enhancing substances?"
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