Armstrong agrees to race in Ireland

The seven-time Tour de France winner confirms he will compete in the Irish equivalent to help promote his cancer charity.

Lance Armstrong will compete in the Tour of Ireland for the first time since 1992.

Lance Armstrong has confirmed he will compete in the Tour of Ireland in August. The Texan, who has returned to racing four years after retiring with the aim of winning an eighth Tour de France, will use his appearance in the much lower profile Irish event to promote his cancer charity. The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) have organised the first 'Livestrong Global Cancer Summit' from Aug 24 to 26 in the Dublin, the day after Armstrong completes the stage race.

"Unless we act on a global level, cancer will be the leading cause of death by 2010," said Armstrong. "Our goal is to be the catalyst that brings everyone together to fight cancer ? from survivors, like me, to world leaders and policymakers who must commit completely to the effort to avoid a public health catastrophe. "The summit provides an invaluable opportunity to stand up for the 28 million cancer survivors worldwide and to create a unified effort to control cancer through new commitments to action." Armstrong, 37, who has competed in the Tour of California and the Tour Down Under this year, last took part in the Irish race in 1992. The Tour of Ireland director Darach McQuaid said that the global sports star can use the event to promote his cancer message all over the world.

"The Tour of Ireland could not be more proud than to have Lance Armstrong riding once again on Irish roads in the lead-up to his global cancer summit in Dublin," said Mr McQuaid. "The massive, positive public reaction to his comeback to the sport in Australia in January and California in February indicate that, by the time Lance arrives in Ireland next August, the interest levels will be at fever pitch." *PA Sport