Lance Armstrong to race in 2009 Tour de France

[Windmill360]

7-time Tour winner prepares for comeback

Last Updated: Monday, September 8, 2008 | 5:27 PM ET

Cycling legend Lance Armstrong reportedly will come out of retirement to compete in five road races, including the 2009 Tour de France.

VeloNews reported Monday that Armstrong will race in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris Nice Cycling Race, Tour de Georgia, Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré and the storied Tour de France, which he won a record seven consecutive times from 1999-2005.

Armstrong, who turns 37 on Sept. 18, retired on July 24, 2005.

Anonymous sources told the journal that Armstrong will join the Astana team — reuniting him with former U.S. Postal Service and Discovery team director Johan Bruyneel.

The Astana team was prohibited from competing in this year's Tour de France after Alexandre Vinokourov was disqualified for a positive drug test in 2007, and the team's subsequent decision to withdraw from the race.

Armstrong had a brain tumour surgically removed in 1996 and has survived testicular cancer.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2008/...armstrong.html