"A lot has been made about that relationship between them and myself," he told the Associated Press by phone this week. "The comments are not necessarily in line with reality."

Armstrong is awaiting his first Tour since 2005. The 37-year-old Texan often put off the French during his seven straight titles with a self-confidence seen as arrogance, and an unapologetic crushing of rivals that seemed to drain the race of the suspense the fans crave.

There are signs, though, that the hostility Armstrong was greeted by in some previous races will be absent this time.

A poll published in yesterday's edition of L'Equipe showed 72 percent of respondents said they were "not bothered" by Armstrong's presence on this year's Tour.

The race starts tomorrow in Monaco. Yesterday, cycling governing body UCI carried out prerace blood tests of all the expected riders as part of a tough, new anti-doping program, and the 20 teams were presented in a ceremony at the principality's port.

Armstrong, in brief comments to a French TV reporter at the presentation, said he felt "a lot of excitement" and "a heckuva lot of nerves" before the 3-week jaunt over nearly 2,140 miles.

Over the years, many in France harbored doubts that the cancer survivor raced clean, when so many other riders were caught doping. During the 2005 Tour, many fans booed Armstrong as he raced by, and he subsequently stopped any visible effort to seduce the French.

During his absence, things have eased and Armstrong is not the same dominant rider anymore. He won only one race this season - the Nevada City Classic in June - and finished 12th in the Giro d'Italia. He also crashed and broke his collarbone in the Vuelta of Castilla and Leon stage race in March.

Armstrong will be on the starting line in Monaco in a situation he has never experienced. The man once feared as "the Boss" of the peloton now has to battle Astana teammate Alberto Contador, the overwhelming prerace favorite, for the role of team leader.

Meanwhile, cycling's governing body said all 180 riders expected to start the Tour underwent planned prerace blood tests. Also tested was Quick Step sprint star Tom Boonen, the Belgian rider who appealed to French sports authorities in hopes of overturning a ban by Tour organizers after he tested positive twice for cocaine in less than a year.

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