Lance Armstrong is Back in Professional Cycling and in the Back of the Pack

Lance Armstrong has pulled off some serious miracles in his life. First he beat cancer and then came back to the world of professional cycling and won a record seven Tour de France Championships. After a few years away from the sport he loves Lance Armstrong is back to work in the Australian race dubbed the "Tour Down Under." But Armstrong finds himself in an unusual position; at the back of the pack. Despite a tough first day Armstrong still feels good.

Armstrong finished the first stage of the Tour Down Under in 120th out of 133 riders (source: news.yahoo.com). Sounds like a joke I know, but that's where he finished. But let's not be so hasty. After all Armstrong is 37-years old and while that is still a relatively young age, compared to the rest of the riders in the event, Armstrong is a dinosaur. This is also Armstrong's first action in several years so a little rust should be expected.

To add to that rust Armstrong, and the rest of the riders, had to compete in 103-degree heat. While that may be a "dry heat" Armstrong says it still takes its toll. "It's hot, man, it's hot," he said. "It's a dry heat but it affects performance a lot. There's really no way to perform at a high level when it's (103) degrees. You just cope and drink as much as you can. I think we must have gone through maybe 15 or 20 bottles each today." Despite the tough first day, Armstrong felt "good and strong" and was pleased with his first day back at the office so to speak (source: yahoo.news.com).

Germany's Andre Greipel won the event last year and also won the first stage of the race. The second stage of the race is a blistering 90-mile ride where Lance Armstrong will try to find his legs and gain some ground (source: news.yahoo.com).

But even if Armstrong doesn't finish well in the Tour Down Under, does it really matter? He has already accomplished so much in his life and in his career. Still you know he is not pleased knowing he only beat 13 riders on the first day of competition, a number that is considered by many superstitious people to be unlucky. But don't look for Lance Armstrong to dwell on the negative; it just wouldn't be his style. Perhaps he can turn the unlucky into lucky. One thing is for sure, he has beaten higher odds in his life before than he is faces now. Welcome back Lance; go get 'em!