ANNECY, France — Lance Armstrong and RadioShack are forming a cycling team that will compete in next year’s Tour de France.
The seven-time Tour winner, who returned to cycling after 3 1/2 years of retirement, also said Thursday he expects to take part in running and triathlon events for Team RadioShack beginning in 2010.
“RadioShack has agreed to partner with us on this venture and ensure that this partnership and this team stays alive for years to come, continues to be at the head of the peloton,” Armstrong said. “It’s a huge opportunity for us as an organization and as a cancer survivor. It’s pretty mega.”
Armstrong is riding this year’s Tour with the Kaz-akh-funded Astana team. He was in third place overall after Thursday’s time trial, 5 minutes and 25 seconds behind teammate Alberto Contador.
Armstrong did not indicate who else might join Team RadioShack, but Jonathan Vaughters, manager of Boulder-based Garmin-Slipstream and a former Armstrong teammate, said none of his riders will join the team.
“All our riders but one will be under contract next year,” Vaughters said. “That rider is faithful to the team.”
