SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Lance Armstrong's longtime coach said he expects the cyclist to win at least one stage of the upcoming Amgen Tour of California.
Coach Chris Carmichael said that while Armstrong's top goals are to bring attention to his anti-cancer campaign and help Astana teammate Levi Leipheimer win his third consecutive Tour of California, the 37-year-old cyclist may win at least one stage of the race and could even finish in the top 10, USA Today reported Friday.
Carmichael said Armstrong's return to professional racing at last month's Tour Down Under in Australia revealed the athlete is still in excellent physical condition.
"He had some fatigue near the end," Carmichael said. "But he bounced back the next day."
Armstrong posted data from seven doping tests on his Web site Wednesday evening and further results are expected from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
"Cycling's at the end of that dark spot," Armstrong said Thursday of the sport's doping scandals. "But at night we can sleep well knowing that we've been tested more than anyone."
The prologue time trial stage of the Amgen Tour of California begins Saturday.
