Lance lurking in Luxembourg

Diekirch - Lance Armstrong's decision to ride in the Tour of Luxembourg to make up for the racing days he lost earlier in the season due to illness and injury looks to have paid off.

The low-key race has proved more demanding than expected for American Armstrong, aiming to win an unprecedented eighth Tour de France title next month.

"Very warm and never flat. They picked every hill in Luxembourg here today but it was a good day," Armstrong told reporters on Saturday after finishing the 191.5km third stage safe in the main pack.

The 38-year-old RadioShack rider stayed third overall, 30 seconds behind leader Matteo Carrara of Italy.

"Last minute choice but I'm happy with it. Johan (Bruyneel, Team RadioShack's manager) and I have discussed that every day it actually worked out pretty good," he said.

Armstrong has been riding at the front the pack, avoiding trouble in a searing hot week on the winding, tricky roads of Luxembourg.

The Texan believes the race has been more than a routine workout and has been useful ahead of the real deal - the Tour.

"I think so. I hope so and I think so," he said.

Armstrong could not, however, assess whether he was in better condition than at the same point last year.

"It's too hard to say. We played that game for a year and a half, trying to compare, March of 2009 with March of 2004, it's just so hard to compare now," he explained.

"It's even impossible to compare right now because 12 months ago today I was in Colorado recovering from the Giro, trying to prepare for the Tour, having a baby so there's really no comparison."

Armstrong will take part in the June 12-20 Tour of Switzerland to fine tune his preparations for the Tour starting from Rotterdam on July 3.

"I have five days of recuperation (after Luxembourg). My family is here so I can use most of those days recovering from this and rest for Switzerland and hang out with them," he said, adding he would then scout the most important stages of the Tour.

Results on Saturday in the third stage of the Tour of Luxembourg, a 191.5km ride from Eschweiler to Diekirch:

1. Tony Gallopin, France, Cofidis, 4 hours, 57 minutes, 28 seconds.
2. Giovanni Visconti, Italy, ISD-Neri, same time.
3. Alexandre Geniez, France, Skil-Shimano, same time.
4. Serguei Ivanov, Russia, Katusha, same time.
5. Bjorn Leukemans, Belgium, Vacansoleil, same time.
6. Matteo Carrara, Italy, Vacansoleil, same time.
7. Steve Houanard, France, Skil-Shimano, same time.
8. Eduard Vorganov, Russia, Katusha, same time.
9. Juan Antonio Flecha, Spain, Sky, same time.
10. Jeremy Roy, France, FDJeux, same time.

Also:

15. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Saxo Bank, same time.
22. Lance Armstrong, United States, RadioShack, same time.

Overall standings:

1. Matteo Carrara, Italy, Vacansoleil, 14 hours, 41 minutes, 58 seconds.
2. Frank Schleck, Luxembourg, Saxo Bank, one second behind.
3. Lance Armstrong, United States, RadioShack, :30.
4. Juan Antonio Flecha, Spain, Sky, :34.
5. Serguei Ivanov, Russia, Katusha, same time.
6. Bjorn Leukemans, Belgium, Vacansoleil, :35.
7. Alexandre Geniez, France, Skil-Shimano, :39.
8. Andreas Kloden, Germany, RadioShack, :50.
9. Gregory Rast, Switzerland, RadioShack, :51.
10. Sandy Casar, France, FDJeux, :52.