Armstrong feeling fresh for Tour of California

Three weeks after making his comeback, 37-year-old Lance Armstrong is ready to take on a field billed as the strongest assembled in the United States for the Tour of California.

The seven-times Tour de France winner, who quit professional cycling after the 2005 Tour but announced late last year he was returning to competition, will represent the Astana team when the race starts today.

"I have had two breaks from the sport, one more unfortunate than the other," cancer survivor Armstrong told a news conference.

"But now I'm fresh. I feel as good now at age 37 as I did at age 27. It's not the body, it's the mind that drops off and says: 'I've been doing this for 20 years, I don't want to do this any more'."

Armstrong returned to cycling in late January with a 29th place finish at the Tour Down Under in Australia.

The Tour of California, which will feature 17 teams of eight riders, will mark his first North American pro race since 2005.