Armstrong: This year's Tour de France will be my last

Jun 29, 2010, 8:03 GMT

Paris - Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong said on his Twitter page that this year's race will be his last.

'And yes, this will be final Tour de France. It's been a great ride. Looking forward to 3 great weeks,' the 38-year-old American wrote. Then he added: 'Doh, sorry, meant 'my' final Tour.'

After finishing third in last year's Tour following three years of retirement, Armstrong is considered one of the favourites to win this year's race.

In another Twitter message regarding a practice ride, the Texas native said he was close to being fit for the three-week race.

'Last hard ride before the (Tour de France). Test on the Col de la Madone. Record time? No. Close to it? Yes. I'm ready,' he wrote.

However, Armstrong's preparations for the Tour have been disrupted by an intestinal virus and a bad crash in the Tour of California on May 20.

He has also been the target of new doping charges, this time by his former teammate and fellow American Floyd Landis.

In June, Armstrong finished third in the Tour de Luxembourg and then came in second in the Tour de Suisse.

The 2010 Tour de France begins Saturday with a prologue in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.