Armstrong was mobbed by fans before Friday's stage

Lance Armstrong finished 23rd on the first stage of the three-day Tour of Ireland on Friday.

In his first race since taking third in the Tour de France, Armstrong was one of 14 riders to come in 16 seconds behind Britain's Russell Downing.

Russia's Alexander Kolobnev was one second behind Downing while Denmark's Matti Breschel took third.

"It was a tough start for me I don't know about everyone else," said seven-times Tour de France winner Armstrong.

"It all takes it out of you. The combination of the up and down terrain, the rough surface, the twisty turny roads, the wind and then a lot of accelerations.

"You know you've raced at the end of it," added Armstrong after the 122-mile stage.

606: DEBATE Good to see Downing is in good form ahead of the worlds and Tour of Britain SeanF81

American Armstrong, who last raced in Ireland in 1992 in his first year as a professional, said he did not expect to challenge for overall victory.

"We'll see what happens. I haven't been doing a lot of specific road work but hopefully I'll feel better as the days go on," he said.

"It'll all comes down to the last day. Somebody will probably make a separation, but probably not me."

Armstrong is using his last race of the year to promote his Livestrong cancer foundation.

The cycling legend was mobbed at the start of the opening stage in the County Wicklow village of Enniskerry.

Hundreds flocked to the race's opening stage at the foot of the Wicklow mountains, swamping the Texan for autographs and briefly holding up the start.

We've had a lot of great help and support from the people of Dublin and the people of Ireland Lance Armstrong

The seven-time Tour de France winner is competing for the last time with the Astana team and ends his season when the three-day 358-mile race finishes in Cork.

But Armstrong, who last rode in the competition in 1992, was quick to declare his priorities as he prepares for his cancer foundation's Livestrong summit in Dublin on Monday.

"That's the most important thing," he said as he eased his way to the start line.

"We get to race for a few days and then sit down and talk about the global burden," he said.

"We've had a lot of great help and support from the people of Dublin and the people of Ireland."

Armstrong has not raced on the road since finishing third in the Tour de France behind team mate and rival Alberto Contador.

Saturday's 122-mile second stage is from Clonmel to Killarney and the event ends in Cork City on Sunday.

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