Armstrong hopeful of meeting Mandela

MURCIA, SPAIN (AP) - Lance Armstrong says he hopes to meet with Nelson Mandela during a visit to South Africa next week.

Armstrong is traveling to South Africa on Monday to take part in a local race next weekend and says meeting the former president would be "the opportunity of a lifetime."

The seven-time Tour de France champion says he has not been guaranteed a meeting since Mandela's schedule is busy and "at this point of his life he wants to take it easy and not meet too many people."

Armstrong was speaking ahead of Sunday's final stage in the Vuelta de Murcia, where he is seventh overall after a disappointing time trial. The American admits his form has not been as good as he hoped, but that he is "not too stressed" about his performance.