Armstrong working toward improving his conditioning

SILVER CITY, N.M. --- Although Lance Armstrong still has improvements to make in his buildup to the Giro d'Italia, he believes his decision to race in the Tour of the Gila was a good move.

After several weeks of training in Aspen, Colo., the climate has been more favorable in New Mexico.

"Similar elevations, but a little lower, warmer and sunnier," Armstrong said Thursday. "It's a good continuation because we'll have a whole month at elevation before the Tour of Italy. It works well."

Astana general manager Johan Bruyneel, who oversaw Armstrong's seven Tour de France titles, said Armstrong's current conditioning wouldn't put him in contention next week in Italy, "but he can improve."

That's because Armstrong's fitness is sure to increase during the Giro. Right now, Bruyneel said, Armstrong is at the level he showed before breaking his collarbone in April during a crash in Spain.

"No more crashes and just time," Bruyneel said when asked what Armstrong needs. "This week will be very good training to get the intensity that he's lacking. He needs to get some speed in the legs for the start of the Giro."

Armstrong got plenty of speed during the finish of Thursday's second stage of the five-day Tour of the Gila. The 80-mile race ended in a mass sprint, won by Colavita team racer Lucas Sebastian Haedo.

Armstrong crossed with the large pack, along with teammates Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner. The Astana riders are entered independently this week, wearing the kits of Armstrong's Mellow Johnny's bike shop.

Besides another tough workout, Armstrong was pulled into doping control.

"It was another hard day," Horner said. "Lance and I rode the front for 80 kilometers."

There were a few breakaways over the final 12 miles, including one with OUCH team cyclist and former Tour de France winner Floyd Landis, but the peleton had no trouble catching up.

"Everybody was there at the end," Horner said.