Armstrong to make shock comeback

Cycling legend Lance Armstrong is coming out of retirement to try to win an eighth Tour de France in 2009.

The American, who will be 37 on 18 September, recovered from cancer and claimed victory in the Tour a record seven times before retiring in 2005.

He said: "I'm happy to announce that after talking with my children, family and closest friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling.

"It is in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden."

He added: "This year alone, nearly eight million people will die of cancer worldwide. It's now time to address cancer on a global level."

Since his retirement in 2005, he has run respectable times in the New York and Boston marathons but much of his energy has been spent running the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a charity dedicated to combating cancer.

Armstrong will announce details of his team and pre-Tour racing schedule on 24 September at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City.

"I think it's great," said Armstrong's former team-mate George Hincapie.

"Without Lance, half the teams in the Tour probably wouldn't be around. He's done more than anyone for the sport especially in America and around the world."

During his career, many other riders were caught doping but Armstrong has never tested positive and has always maintained he was a clean rider, using hundreds of passed drug tests during his career as proof.

"I'll be totally honest with you. The year that I won the Tour, many of the guys that finished second through to 10th are gone. Out. Caught. Positive tests. Suspended. Whatever.

"And so I can understand why people look at that and go, 'well, they were caught - and you weren't?'

"So there is a nice element here where I can come with really a completely comprehensive program and there will be no way to cheat."

He's probably on Red Bull :o)