Lance Armstrong seems certain to return to Australia again next summer for the Tour Down Under, with an official announcement due soon.
South Australian Premier Mike Rann is visiting Dublin and expected to appear later today with the seven-times Tour de France winner, who launched his international comeback last January in the event.
This year the tour, taking in areas from Murray Bridge to Clare, injected $39 million into the SA economy, according to the Premier.
Armstrong has been riding in various events in the UK and Ireland, including the recent Tour of Ireland.
Lance Armstrong’s determination to ride at the head of his own Team RadioShack in a bid to win the Tour de France, in contrast to this year when he was relegated to third behind winner and Astana team mate Alberto Contador, would make the Tour Down Under a key part of his build-up.
Last year he finished 29th, well down the field and 49 seconds behind winner Allan Davis, but his star power helped attract crowds as high as 144,000 to line the route on some days.
Premier Rann said three weeks ago he hoped that Armstrong could bring Team RadioShack, which he is presently putting together, to South Australia for 2010.
He said that he would be personally talking with Armstrong, as would the organisers of next year’s event.
From 2010 Armstrong will compete for Team RadioShack as a cyclist, runner and triathlete in events around the world.
Rann said that attracting Armstrong had depended upon Team Radio Shack securing a pro-tour licence from the world governing council of cycling the UCI.
“Preliminary talks with the Armstrong Team have begun and both (Tourism Minister) Jane Lomax-Smith and I will be personally involved in the negotiations to try to secure Lance and the new American team for the Tour Down Under,” Mr Rann said.
Lance Armstrong’s appearance at the 2009 Tour Down Under saw it attract record crowds of 760,500 people compared to 548,000 in 2008 and 36,200 event specific visitors compared to 15,100 in 2008.
(Source: news.com.au)
Lance Armstrong return likely for Tour Down Under
