Former Tour de France champ Pereiro makes debut as footballer

MADRID - Former Tour de France champion Oscar Pereiro made his debut as a footballer in the Spanish amateur league on the weekend and hopes to play third division games soon.

Pereiro, 33, came on as a substitute in the second half for the reserve team of Galician club Coruxo in a 1-0 defeat.

Pereiro signed at third division Coruxo last week after retiring from cycling. He was declared 2006 Tour de France champion after the original winner Floyd Landis was disqualified over a doping offence.

“I was quite nervous because I felt being watched. But I think I made no mistake,” Pereiro said Monday.

Coruxo coach Jesus Camino said: “He is not an outstanding footballer but he contributed in a positive way to his team’s game.”