Armstrong accustomed to glare of spotlight

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 3, 2009 | by BRIAN GOMEZ

SILVER CITY, N.M. - Drivers slow down to catch a glimpse of Lance Armstrong or honk their horns as they speed past him. Fans line his motor coach, hoping for an autograph and some pictures. Women pucker up in case they're close enough to kiss him.

Maybe not since Billy the Kid wreaked havoc on this downtrodden community with a string of robberies and killings in the 1800s has someone here commanded so much attention, brought so much publicity, triggered so much talk.

It's what Armstrong expects everywhere he goes, three months into a comeback in which he was blitzed by fans in Australia, Spain and California - somewhat of an appetizer, with the main course massive crowds at the Giro d'Italia that begins Saturday and the Tour de France in July.

Yet the laid-back feel of Silver City, home to 10,500 people and Western New Mexico University, has surprised Armstrong, who spends most of his season racing in largely populated Europe, not small- town America.

"It's completely different than what the Giro would be like or the Tour would be like or any other race at the highest level," said Armstrong, who took 11th Saturday in the Tour of the Gila's fourth stage, a 43-mile criterium won by New Zealander Roman van Uden.

When the International Cycling Union granted Armstrong clearance Tuesday to represent his bike shop, Mellow Johnny's, in the five- stage, 339-mile Gila, most of the 30 hotels in Silver City filled up.

Race organizers say Armstrong's fans traveled 150 miles northwest from El Paso, Texas; 200 miles east from Tucson, Ariz.; and 275 miles south from Albuquerque.

"Having Lance here is the ultimate cherry on top," said David Zimberoff, marketing director for bike component manufacturer SRAM, the Gila's title sponsor.

Layoffs at copper mines recently demoralized Silver City, with 22 percent of the population below the poverty line, according to the 2000 census.

The seven-time Tour de France champion is providing hope.

He's escorted from a house he's renting with his girlfriend in a black sport-utility vehicle, he's accompanied by police officers on training rides and barriers surround his RV.

But Armstrong sometimes waves to fans on the road, and he always signs autographs after each stage. He even let someone kiss him on the cheek.

"Normally in a race, there's not so much time," said Johan Bruyneel, general manager of the Astana team featuring Armstrong. "You have the race, then you get to the hotel. You're always in a hurry. Here, we are never in a hurry."

That doesn't bother Armstrong.

"You almost sit around and wonder what to do," he said. "I do get to take a nap (between) races. ? I'm still having cold beers every night."

Etc.

South African Carla Swart won the women's professional division. ? On the Colorado Springs front, Kelli Emmett placed 27th and Lindsey Bishop finished 38th in the pro race; Brad Winn was 31st in the second class; and Grant Goerzen was 36th in the third division.