By Dan Marries - email
TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) - Fresh off the heels of Tucson's largest bike race, El Tour de Tucson, the world's most famous and respected cycling professional is here.
Lance Armstrong and several fellow members of the Team RadioShack are training in Tucson. According to an Armstrong Tweet some of the team members went on a ride this morning, "Great ride w/ the team. Lots of old faces (not literally) and some new ones. Beat the rain. Did some time w/ the RETUL guys afterwards too."
Last week, Team RadioShack Manager Johan Bruyneel announced a 26-rider lineup for 2010, including Armstrong's former Astana teammates Levi Leipheimer, Andreas Kloeden and Yaroslav Popovych.
"It is a well balanced team," Bruyneel said of the team that is gathering for the first time in Tucson. "We have experienced riders, with some of them I worked already many years in my former teams, but we also have young talents who can develop in the perfect environment.
"I am happy that our sponsors want to invest in the future of cycling. Our main goal will be the Tour de France and other stage races but I am confident that, with these riders, we can perform very well in the one-day races as well."
Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France champion, came out of retirement to race the 2009 tour with Astana and finished third at age 37, making him the second-oldest rider to make the podium. Armstrong said in August that winning an eighth Tour de France title is his goal.
Of the 26 riders, at least three of them have ridden in El Tour de Tucson including Armstrong (in 1997), Chris Horner, and Matthew Busche. Busche finished 135th overall in this year's El Tour de Tucson.
The team is scheduled for a two-week training camp in Tucson and is scheduled to make its racing debut at the 2010 Tour Down Under in Australia.
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