Lance Armstrong found the opening stage of cycling's three-day Tour of Ireland tough going on Friday, finishing 16 seconds behind stage winner Russell Downing.
The seven-times Tour de France says the combination of the up and down terrain, the rough surface, the twisty turny roads, the wind and then a lot of accelerations takes a lot out of a rider.
The American, who last raced in Ireland in 1992 in his first year as a professional, says he doens not expect to challenge for overall victory.
Saturday's 196 kilometre second stage is from Clonmel to Killarney, and the Tour ends in Cork on Sunday.