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Armstrong back to race 2009 Giro d'Italia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-14 11:05

ROME -- Lance Armstrong will launch his comeback striving to race in next year's Giro d'Italia, the seven-times Tour de France winner said on Monday.

Cancer survivor and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong (R) participates in a charity event in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, September 12, 2008. [Agencies]

The 37-year-old, who retired in 2005, will compete in the May 9-31 race before bidding for an eighth Tour title in July.

"I will give my utmost, and not only to prepare for the Tour," Armstrong said in a statement.

The American will start his comeback in January's Tour Down Under in Australia after being allowed to compete by the International Cycling Union (UCI) despite breaching the rules.

Riders making comebacks have to be in the UCI's anti-doping programme for six months prior to racing but the governing body has made an exception for Armstrong, who announced he was returning to the sport only last month.

Armstrong, who fought off cancer and unproven doping allegations during his career, is partly making a comeback with the Astana team to promote his global cancer awareness campaign, LiveStrong.

The Giro, the second biggest stage-race after the Tour, will be celebrating its centenary next year. The route has yet to be announced.