Armstrong back on track for Tour

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Lance Armstrong will ride in the 2009 Tour de France, marking the first time he will compete in that race and the Giro d'Italia in the same year.
   
"I'm committed to riding for the best guy," Armstrong said on Monday, acknowledging the taxing schedule could leave him riding in a supporting role in France.

Armstrong's Astana team includes 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador and is loaded with other talented riders.

"We'll abide by the same code that I do: cycling is team sport, while we'd all like to win," the seven-time Tour champion told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where Astana is training.
   
The 37-year-old Armstrong stunned the cycling world in September when he announced he was ending his three-year retirement.

He is scheduled to return to elite racing on January 20 for the Tour Down Under in Australia.

He has dedicated his comeback to raising awareness for his global fight against cancer.

After voicing concerns in recent weeks about his personal safety in France, Armstrong dismissed that issue on Monday.

"It's not going to keep me from going and doing my job and it's not going to keep me from spreading my message."
 

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Long time teammates Lance Armstrong and George Hincapie will go head-to-head in cycling's Tour Down Under around Adelaide next year.

Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner, is a confirmed starter in the tour after announcing plans to launch a comeback to professional racing in 2009.

Now tour organisers have announced that Hincapie will also race in Adelaide as part of Team Columbia.

As a former member of the US Postal cycling team, the veteran American was the only teammate of Armstrong to ride alongside him in all his Tour de France victories.

"Team Columbia is sending a very strong line-up to compete at the 2009 Tour Down Under," race director Mike Turtur said.

"The inclusion of an experienced rider such as Hincapie, who is such a reliable and solid competitor, will really add to our world-class cycling spectacle.

"The Tour Down Under will be the first time that Hincapie and Armstrong will compete against each other on opposing teams."

Also included in Team Columbia will be last year's Tour Down Under winner Andre Greipel and Australians Michael Rogers, Adam Hanson and Mark Renshaw.

Other teams for the January 18-25 event will be announced closer to the race.

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The 2009 Tour de France will have a tough mountain stage on its penulitmate day in a tradition-busting innovation that could upset Lance Armstrong's possible return.

RELATED: Armstrong gives the route the thumbs up

Route for the 2009 Tour de France

(total distance: 3445 kms):-
July 4 - Stage 1, Monaco-Monaco, individual time trial, 15km
July 5 - Stage 2, Monaco-Brignoles, 182km
July 6 - Stage 3, Marseille-La Grande Motte, 196km
July 7 - Stage 4, Montpellier-Montpellier, team time trial, 38km
July 8 - Stage 5, Le Cap d'Agde-Perpignan, 197km
July 9 - Stage 6, Gerona-Barcelona, 175km)
July 10 - Stage 7, Barcelona-Arcalis, Andorra, 224km
July 11 - Stage 8, Andorre-la-Vieille-Saint-Girons, 176km
July 12 - Stage 9, Saint-Gaudens-Tarbes, 160km
July 13 - Rest Day in Limoges

July 14 - Stage 10, Limoges-Issoudun, 193km
July 15 - Stage 11, Vatan-Saint-Fargeau, 192km
July 16 - Stage 12, Tonnerre-Vittel, 200km
July 17 - Stage 13, Vittel-Colmar, 200km
July 18 - Stage 14, Colmar-Besancon, 199km
July 19 - Stage 15, Pontarlier-Verbier, 207km
July 20 - Rest Day in Verbier
July 21 - Stage 16, Martigny-Bourg-Saint-Maurice, 160km
July 22 - Stage 17, Bourg-Saint-Maurice-Le Grand Bornand, 169km
July 23 - Stage 18, Annecy-Annecy, individual time trial, 40km
July 24 - Stage 19, Bourgoin-Jallieu-Aubenas, 195km
July 25 - Stage 20, Montelimar-Mont Ventoux, 167km
July 26 - Stage 21, Montereau-Fault-Yonne-Paris-Champs-Elysees, 160km

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