Sydney - Lance Armstrong is unlikely to finish next week's Tour Down Under in the leader's ochre jersey but some are predicting the seven-time Tour de France victor might leave the Australian city of Adelaide with a yellow Jersey cow.

It's traditional that a stage winner is presented with a local dairy cow - and the hot gossip is that the lanky Texan hopes to mark his return to professional cycling with at least one stage win.

"I've no illusions of grandeur when it comes to the results there," the 37-year-old said of his comeback stage race on January 20-25. "I suspect there'll be a lot of guys, especially young guys super-fit because of their season, who will be stronger than me and the European-based pros."

Australia's John Trevorrow, a former professional cyclist and now a race impresario, reckons Armstrong is in it to win it.

"Knowing just what an obsessional character he is, he'll come to South Australia in a competitive frame of mind and in the belief that he can win the Tour Down Under," he said. "Armstrong's return to racing has the makings of turning 2009 into a legendary year."

The enthusiasm for his return from retirement in 2005 is enormous. More than 7,000 amateur cyclists have enrolled to ride a stage of the Adelaide race - twice as many as last year.

The media contingent is 10 times what it was last year. Millions in Europe and North America are expected to watch daily highlights - an audience put there by the intense international interest in Armstrong.

Phil Liggett, the road racing commentator, is predicting Armstrong will go hell-for-leather to win a stage and prove to his Astana team-mates that sentimentality is not behind his inclusion in the 2009 campaign.

"I won't say he'll win the tour, but to know Lance is to know someone who is totally committed," Liggett said. "I think he can win one of the tougher stages."

Alberto Contador, the Tour de France winner in 2007, is an Astana rider. So are the American Levi Leipheimer, German Andreas Kloden and Spaniard Haimar Zubeldia. But, as none of these riders will be in Adelaide, Armstrong is Astana's lead rider there.

Armstrong knows that Contador is miffed about his inclusion in the Astana side assembled by manager Johan Bruyneel.

"It's going to require some discussion and some balance," Armstrong said of his relations with Contador. "But I'm committed to riding and following the rules of cycling and supporting the strongest rider. Whoever Johan thinks that is, I'll follow team orders."

The favourite going into the six-day event is last year's winner, burly 26-year-old German and Team Colombia frontman Andre Greipel.

Adding piquancy to the starting line will be the sizeable presence of George Hincapie, who this year is super domestique to Greipel. Hincapie was the only team-mate to ride alongside Armstrong in all his Tour de France victories.

Second favourite for the ochre jersey is Spaniard Oscar Pereiro, the other Tour de France winner in the race.

Australia's Robbie McEwen, runner-up three times, is backing Armstrong for a strong showing in Adelaide.

"Lance is a very intense guy and absolutely lives for what he does - ride a bike and promote his Livestrong Foundation," McEwen said. "I definitely wouldn't put it passed him to get back to his best." (dpa)