Lance Armstrong retired from cycling more than three years ago with seven Tour de France victories to his name and a reputation built on a ruthless desire to rack up big-race wins as a team leader.
Since he returned to the sport at the end of January, however, Armstrong is enjoying his new role as a domestique and fulfilled his task in helping Astana team-mate Levi Leipheimer complete a Tour of California hat-trick on Sunday.
"I didn't come in here with any expectations other than to ride for Levi," Armstrong told reporters after finishing seventh in his first race on home soil since coming out of retirement.
"I think it will be good for me, personally. I spent 15 years sitting on the peloton's wheel waiting for the final hill to attack.
"It's kind of cool to be pulling away at the front (of the peloton) today. It might be good for my life."
During his career, Armstrong has had to contend with the glare of the media spotlight for either his spectacular victories or allegations of illegal drugs use.
However, last week, the 37-year-old American seemed to relish the anonymity of blending in with the foot soldiers of peloton.
He was more than happy to let the attention fall on Leipheimer, who grabbed the overall lead after the second stage and never looked in danger of failing to add a third straight triumph in the Golden State.
Armstrong worked tirelessly for his team-mate, often riding at the front of the main field and controlling the pace.
During the Tour's only two individual stages, the prologue in Sacramento and stage six's individual time trial, Armstrong showed he is still capable of battling with the best by posting 10th and 14th place finishes respectively.
Armstrong, who was 29th overall in his comeback debut in the five-day Tour Down Under in Australia last month, is not scheduled to race again until March 21 in the Milan-San Remo one-day Italian classic.
He will then throw himself into preparations for both the Tour of Italy and Tour de France, the first time he will attempt to ride in two three-week events in one season.
"Like I've said many times, if I could get top 10 to top five or even top three that would be perfect," Armstrong said of his Tour of Italy expectations.
"Having never done the Giro (d'Italia) and the Tour (de France), I have to be aware that it's a difficult thing to do.
"It's something I've never experienced but we'll come into the Giro as fit as we can possibly be. You don't want to kill yourself.
"I have to admit there are other riders who are more motivated than some of us, guys like (Ivan) Basso or (Damiano) Cunego. They'll be hard to beat in their national Tour.
"But don't mistake it. We're not going to be rolling around for three weeks eating pasta and drinking Chianti.
"We're coming to race. I just don't know how strong I will be."