Lance Armstrong is testing his legs at the Circuit de la Sarthe race, which began Tuesday in northwest France with a 184.6-kilometer (114-mile) stage.

The riders left the town of Sable-sur-Sarthe to crisscross the Sarthe region, which is known largely for Le Mans auto racing.

Armstrong is preparing for the Tour de France in July. The seven-time Tour champion finished 27th Sunday in the Tour of Flanders in Belgium, and said he felt the best he has all year.

A key attraction of this race for Armstrong is Wednesday's 6.8-kilometer time trial. He won one such race against the clock in the 1999 Circuit de la Sarthe in the town of Mulsanne.