Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong (Team RadioShack) has arrived in South Africa ahead of his appearance in the Cape Argus cycling race.

Armstrong flew into Cape Town late Monday and is set to ride Sunday as part of the world's biggest peloton.

The Argus is a one-day, 65-mile race around South Africa's Cape peninsula and is the world's largest individually timed race. It is set to finish near Cape Town's World Cup soccer stadium.

Armstrong was already on his bike Tuesday.

"Out for a gorgeous ride here in Cape Town," he said on his Twitter feed. "A nice 3hr ride. I've heard many times before that Cape Town is stunning. That was no lie. What a place."

The Team RadioShack rider also marked his arrival in the country on his Twitter page a day earlier.

"Well, made it in to SA," Armstrong said. "Not the friendliest welcome I've ever received but we've all seen immigration officers like that."

The 38-year-old Texan also has said he hopes to meet former South Africa president Nelson Mandela during his weeklong visit.

Armstrong finished a disappointing seventh Sunday in the Vuelta de Murcia in Spain, and Team RadioShack sporting director Johan Bruyneel has said his rider needs more preparation ahead of the Tour de France.

Armstrong is set to return to Europe for the Milan-San Remo one-day classic on March 20 and will race in France a week later.

Later this year, he will ride in his second Tour since his high-profile return to the sport.

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