Armstrong set for comeback at Tour of the Gila

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will return to competition at this week's Tour of the Gila in New Mexico after recovering from collarbone surgery, race organisers said on Tuesday.

After initially being barred from riding in the five-day event because of an International Cycling Union (UCI) rule, Armstrong was subsequently cleared to compete as an individual.

The 37-year-old American, who broke his collarbone in four places during the first stage of Spain's Vuelta Castilla y Leon last month, will compete with Astana team mates Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner.

"They're on their way here and they should be in Silver City, New Mexico at around seven o'clock our time," race director Jack Brennan told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Armstrong, who had a stainless steel plate and 12 screws inserted to stabilise his fractured right collarbone a month ago, was given the go-ahead to compete this week after USA Cycling reached an agreement with the UCI.

On Monday, the UCI had cited a rule that prevents top professional teams such as Astana from sending organised squads to national-level races.

CLOSER LOOK

"We had some discussions with the UCI following their initial stance and they took a closer look at the rules," USA Cycling communications director Andy Lee told Reuters.