Armstrong's return on track for the Tour of California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Lance Armstrong kept his head down on the stationary bike, concentrating on his iPod and his pedaling technique.

Each time he glanced up, dozens of fans barricaded 10 feet away snapped pictures and murmured with delight.

Even Armstrong's warmup exercises for Saturday's prologue to the Tour of California were a sensation on Sacramento's downtown streets.

Armstrong knows the crowds and attention will only get bigger - albeit probably not friendlier - as he moves toward his attempt to win another Tour de France title.

After kicking off his comeback in Australia last month, Armstrong returned to competitive cycling in his native country with a smooth 10th-place finish in the prologue.

"People are excited, but I don't think they're as excited as I am," Armstrong said. "I'm glad to be here and appreciate the support."

The seven-time Tour de France winner finished the 2.4-mile course around California's Capitol building in 4 minutes, 37.17 seconds, coming in just 4.3 seconds off the pace set moments later by Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara.

Levi Leipheimer, Armstrong's Astana teammate and the race's two-time defending champion, finished second at 4:34.11 in the day's final ride.

Floyd Landis, who's beginning his comeback from a two-year doping ban, came in 90th amid warm cheers on the next-to-last start.