Armstrong to make comeback with Astana

Lance Armstrong will return to competitive cycling with Team Astana in Australia in January when he begins promoting a global cancer awareness campaign, the seven times Tour de France winner said yesterday.

Armstrong will be reunited with Johan Bruyneel, who was the Texan's team director for all of his Tour de France victories with the US Postal and Discovery teams from 1999-2005.

"I have decided to race my bicycle again," said Armstrong, 37, a survivor of testicular cancer, as he launched the 'Live Strong Global Awareness Campaign' in New York. He also confirmed he would attempt to win his eighth Tour de France next year.

"With this campaign we feel that by racing the bicycle all over the world, beginning in Australia, ending in France at the global summit, it is the best way to promote this initiative, it's the best way to get the word out," said Armstrong.

An Australian politician said earlier yesterday that Armstrong would make his return to professional cycling at the Tour Down Under in January.

Armstrong, who retired after winning the 2005 Tour, unveiled his plans at former US President Bill Clinton's philanthropic summit, the Clinton Global Initiative.

He plans a global summit to raise cancer awareness in Paris after the 2009 Tour de France.

"I look forward to 2009, I look forward to racing again," said Armstrong.

"I cannot guarantee an eighth Tour victory, but I can guarantee you the 'Live Strong' message will touch all aspects of our society.

"It's not very often someone gets a chance to spend three or four years away from something, step back, and then say to themselves, 'I sort of miss that, I'd like to go back and do that again'," he added.