"He lives pretty normal. He goes out to eat. I don't see him keeping a low profile here.

"He's not beloved anymore, but he's not hated."

Away from Austin the wheels of justice are cranking into gear.

An International Cycling Union commission has been assembled to investigate the USADA's damning report into the allegations that Armstrong systematically used performance-enhancing drugs.

He could also face lawsuits from groups such as British newspaper The Sunday Times, which lost legal disputes with Armstrong surrounding doping allegations and, as a result, paid out huge sums, as well as Texan insurance firm SCA Promotions, which insured performance bonuses paid to the American after he claimed his fourth, fifth and sixth Tour de France wins.

Back in Texas, there is a little expectation of Armstrong undergoing a Damascene conversion.

"He'd already fallen off the pedestal," Martinez argued. "All that is left is for a mea culpa -- but I don't think that is ever going to come."

Halliburton is less sure.

"Whether you think Lance did drugs or not -- and it looks like he did something -- he still worked his ass off," she opined.

"I've had people come up to me and say 'I've been an athlete and I know that performance enhancers are not going to help somebody who's not also working hard', so he's real driven, he's a perfectionist and he doesn't suffer fools gladly.

"The last time I talked to him, he said he's going to get the last word.

"But first and foremost he is going to think about his family. You can't just go throwing yourself on the mercy of the public, and want them to love you again.

"He's in a tough spot right now."