Armstrong will make his return to triathlon at the Eves Blue Lake Multisport Festival in Rotorua on January 30, a week after the final stage of the 2011 Tour Down Under. Organisers of the event confirmed Armstrong's participation in the event after a comment made by someone calling themselves Juan Pelota on Twitter. It is believed that Pelota is an alter-ego of Armstrong's. Pelota, whose Twitter biography says "Grew up idolizing The Big 4. They used to call me Junior. Retired. Raisin' 5 kids. I swim, I bike, I run. I travel. I fight cancer. And I like cold beer", tweeted on Thursday "I'm thinking the first tri is here... 38°12′S 176°20′E".

The co-ordinates correspond to the Rotorua event. The organisers then contacted Armstrong's media representative who confirmed the Texan's participation. In October, Armstrong announced that the 2011 Tour Down Under would be his final professional bike race outside the USA. The seven-time Tour de France winner is currently the subject of an on-going investigation into alleged doping practices during his cycling career.

The 2011 Santos Tour Down Under is an six-stage race based in and around Adelaide, South Australia. The race kicks off on Tuesday January 18 in Mawson Lakes and concludes with a circuit-based stage around Adelaide on Sunday January 23. A one-day warm-up race, the Cancer Council Classic, takes place on Sunday January 16.