In the recent Amgen Tour of California last Thursday early on in the race, cycling legend Lance Armstrong suffered a crash. The Tour de France, Armstrong typically uses that race to prepare for the pinnacle of cycling.

With about 4 stages remaining in the race, Lance Armstrong crashed outside of Visalia, California. Including a laceration to his eye and a bruised elbow, he sustained minor injuries. The injuries to Armstrong and the lost race were not the main concerns for the incredible cyclist.

For Armstrong, the Tour of California has a section of mountains that is typically very important. Armstrong has been known for his ability to take over the Tour de France once the tour hits to mountainous region of land, in the past years. His power, speed, and overall endurance in the mountains have carried him to victory many times in the Tour de France. If Armstrong was not able to prepare for this section of the race sufficiently, it would be a great concern.

Armstrong has decided that he will take part in another race in order to prepare, without the conditioning that he would normally take from the Tour of California. Armstrong will be racing at the Tour of Luxembourg next week. This could be just the preparation that Armstrong needs in order to be fully conditioned for his race at the Tour de France.

At each race that Armstrong takes part in, he will continue to field questions about doping allegations. Floyd Landis has stated, to improve performance in cycling, Lance Armstrong was the individual that showed him different doping methods.