Armstrong Back Near The Rear In Tour Down Under

`That was alright,` Armstrong told reporters.

American Lance Armstrong finished near the back of the field on the opening day of the Tour Down Under in Australia on Tuesday.

The seven-times Tour de France winner was content to ride in the back half of the peloton and keep out of trouble on the 140-kilometre stage in the hills north of Adelaide.

"That was alright," Armstrong told reporters. "They said (today) was going to be the easy day, the course combined with the (hot) temperature ... it was tough.

"All-in-all, on the little steep hills that we had, I felt pretty strong."

Armstrong, 37, announced last year he was making a comeback to promote cancer awareness but has not ruled out the possibility of an eighth Tour de France win.

He finished 64th in his comeback race on Sunday, a 51-km criterium, and has warned against expectations of a fairytale win in the Tour Down Under.

The Texan said he was using the six-day, 800-km race as a warmup for the rest of the season and an early chance to promote his cancer awareness programme. Shortly after Tuesday's stage, he met the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Tuesday's stage was won by Germany's defending champion Andre Greipel, who beat Australia's Stuart O'Grady and Baden Cooke in a dramatic sprint finish.

Australia's sprint specialist Robbie McEwen, who won Sunday's criterium, was taken to hospital after crashing heavily in the frantic dash to the finish line.

"I don't think I've broken a bone, but it really, really hurts," McEwen said.