Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has confirmed to race organizers RCS Sport that he plans to participate in the season’s opening Classic, Milan-Sanremo. Armstrong has taken part in the Italian race six times, and decided that the nearly 300 kilometer effort will factor well in his build up to take home an eighth Tour de France title.
Last year’s edition of the race was won in dramatic style by HTC Columbia rider Mark Cavendish. The Brit made a late jump from the leading group to overtake Cervelo TestTeam’s Heinrich Haussler by the slimmest of margins.
The RadioShack captain has already announced participation in several one-day Classics including the Amstel Gold Race, the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
The American isn’t likely to contest the finish of La Primavera. His best placing in the race was 11th in 1996, the year he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Armstrong also used Milan-Sanremo as part of his build up last year, finishing in 125th.