The 39-year-old American refused to talk to reporters as he finished
his last professional international race 65th overall, almost six minutes
adrift of race winner Cameron Meyer of Australia.
Seven-times Tour de France champion Armstrong will now have to
deal with a federal investigation in the US triggered by former team mate Floyd
Landis's allegations that he and other prominent figures in the sport used
performance-enhancing drugs.
The Texan, who never tested positive throughout his career, has
denied any wrongdoing and said on Friday he was keen to cooperate with the US
Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) following fresh doping allegations published by
Sports Illustrated.
Armstrong, a Team RadioShack rider, is set to make a few international
appearances throughout the year but will not be riding as a professional.
Team manager Johan Bruyneel, however, said Armstrong could ride
a last pro race in the US at the Tour of California in May. "@tourdownunder is done. Thanks to everyone for coming
out and supporting such a great race. Adelaide, we're gonna miss ya," he
wrote on Twitter after the sixth and final stage was won by Briton Ben Swift,
who led a Team Sky one-two with New Zealand's Greg Henderson. "I was struggling about half way through the stage after
my efforts on Willunga Hill yesterday but my team did an absolutely perfect job
for me," Swift told reporters.
"It was straight out of the book of how to do a
lead-out and all I had to do then was finish it off."
Garmin Cervelo rider Meyer held off Australian compatriot Matt
Goss by just two seconds to win the race, with his nearest challenger eating
into his overnight eight-second advantage but unable to overhaul the leader.
Track specialist Meyer told reporters: "I can't thank
my team mates enough. They were great. And credit to Matt Goss, too. He fought
right to the end."
