Armstrong coming out of retirement

'UNPRECEDENTED EXCITEMENT'

"A comeback to the sport's marquee event would bring with it unprecedented intrigue and excitement and would most likely have a similar impact.

"A return would be one of the most exciting things to happen in American cycling in a long time."

Armstrong, who retired following his 2005 Tour triumph, has been an outspoken advocate in the fight against cancer, raising funds and awareness of the disease.

He has lobbied President Bush to increase funding for cancer research and over the weekend questioned the two U.S. presidential candidates about how they would go about accelerating the fight against the disease.

Armstrong has been dogged with accusations that he used drugs to help him win the Tour so many times after surviving cancer but he never failed a drug test.

The Texan has spent most of his time since he retired raising money to fight cancer and help survivors through the Lance Armstrong Foundation. He has run a few marathons and recently took part in a mountain bike race.

Armstrong has often said that he did not miss racing, because he had had to deprive himself of fun, food and drink while training.

(Additional reporting by Deborah Charles; Editing by Dave Thompson)