American veteran Lance Armstrong has announced he will permanently retire from cycling at the end of the 2011 season.
Former Tour de France champion to retire after 2011
American veteran Lance Armstrong has announced he will permanently retire from cycling at the end of the 2011 season.
The 38-year-old made his comeback to the sport in January following three and a half years in retirement and secured third place in the Tour de France.
Armstrong has set up his new Radioshack team to be launched next year and has recruited many of his former Astana colleagues, with the exception of rival and Tour champion Alberto Contador.
"After 2011, I'll retire," Armstrong told Italy's
Gazzetta dello Sport.
"This team hasn't been constructed for me, I'm 38. Our aims go further than Armstrong."
Armstrong is intent on winning his eighth Tour de France before he calls it a day but admits that Contador, who has opted to stay with a weakened Astana team despite receiving other offers, will be tough to beat regardless of who he rides with.
"Alberto is an incredible talent, better than anyone both on the bike and mentally," added Armstrong.
"I'm not an idiot, it will be hard to beat him. Some say impossible. We'll see."
