ADELAIDE, Australia (AP):

Thousands more recrea-tional cyclists will ride on the coat-tails of Lance Armstrong's appearance in the Tour Down Under later this month.

Government officials said yesterday that more than 6,300 recreational cyclists have nominated to ride a stage of the tour this year, up from 3,400 last year.

Decision to return

It follows a decision by seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong to make his return to competitive racing in Adelaide and South Australia state from January 18 to 25.

Three years after retiring following his last Tour de France win, the 37-year-old Armstrong announced in September his return to competition and the Tour de France in 2009. He called his comeback an attempt to raise global awareness in his fight against cancer.

Diagnosed in 1996 with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain, doctors gave Armstrong less than a 50 per cent chance of survival, but surgery and chemotherapy saved his life.

In recent years, Tour Down Under organisers have allowed fans to experience the same conditions and challenges as the professionals by riding a stage ahead of the field. This year, it will be the fourth stage from suburban Burnside to Angaston in the popular Barossa Valley tourist and wine district.

State Premier Mike Rann said Armstrong's decision to race in Adelaide had resulted in the big jump in interest.

"To date, 6,310 people have registered for the Mutual Community Challenge Tour and more than 1,500 of them are coming for the event from interstate and overseas," Rann said. "We have already received registrations from New Zealand, Germany, Singapore, Finland, the United Kingdom and the United States.