Armstrong flew in specially from pre season training to open the new “Lance Armstrong Sports & Fitness Center” at the Nike world HQ in Oregon.

“The Lance” is a 60,000 sq ft gym that also doubles as a sporting shrine to the Nike sponsored Tour De France hero. Posters and memorabilia adorn the walls, including the Trek that Lance won his 1999 TDF victory on, while individual roonms are named after, stage victories and members of Lance’s family. The climbing wall is even named after Lance’s favourite training climb, the Col de la Madone.

And just in case Nike’s workers fancied having a go at the real thing, Lance has already set targets to aim for on the four Trek bikes rigged up as simulators for mini versions of ‘Tour stages.

They should be nice and easy to beat then!