Armstrong admits he's tired

ESCONDIDO– After nine days and 750 miles, a 37-year-old man addressed the media Sunday and, predictably, these were his first words: “I’m tired,” Lance Armstrong said.

Yes, Armstrong felt his age after the second race in his celebrated comeback following a 3½-year retirement. But after finishing seventh at the Tour of California – 1 minute and 46 seconds behind winner Levi Leipheimer - the seven-time Tour de France champion had reason to mix optimism with his exhaustion.

Armstrong, of course, is defined athletically by his record seven straight Tour titles. And the question the cycling community has asked since he announced his return is whether an eighth crown is a possibility.

History isn’t in his favor. The oldest rider to win the Tour is Firmin Lambot, who was 36 when he won in 1922.

On Sunday, Armstrong and Astana team director Johan Bruyneel, who has been present for all seven Tour wins, expressed cautious optimism as they looked ahead to the Giro d’Italia in May and the Tour in July.

Armstrong, who finished 29th in his return at the Tour Down Under in January, placed 10th at the prologue at the TOC and 14th in the time trial.

“What he needs is time,” Bruyneel said. “He was out for three years physically and he checked out mentally. There a lot of things he needs to get used to again, little things.

“He’s fit and with a lot of good races and a lot of good training, it’s possible to be back at a very high level. How high that level can be compared to what he was, that’s something we still don’t know. I have to say it looks pretty good. My conclusion after his first two stage races is very positive, better than I expected.”

Armstrong, who weighed 188 pounds in June, has dropped roughly 20 pounds, but is still perhaps five pounds shy of his ideal cycling weight.

During his training over the summer, he devoted plenty of time to lifting weights to build up his core strength. As a result, he is currently too bulky in the upper body.

“Obviously to win the Tour you have to be as strong as possible and as light as possible,” Armstrong said. “I don’t think I have to get that much stronger, but I do have to get lighter. Three-and-a-half years away, not watching every gram of food you put in your body and how much wine you consume takes its toll.”

Armstrong conceded the Tour of California, a race about two weeks and 1,500 miles shorter than the Tour de France, was a grind. He said the constant rain during the early stages was a factor. He also said his performance during the 15-mile time trial in Solvang wasn’t smooth and he needed to tweak his position on the bike.

Overall, however, he was pleased.

And tired.

“I wouldn’t say I was 100 percent today, but I felt better today than I did yesterday,” Armstrong said. “Having said that, I’m glad we’re not racing tomorrow.”

You can reach Staff Writer Eric Branch at 521-5268 or eric.branch@pressdemocrat.com