giro d italia

Lance Armstrong will ride in the 2009 Tour de France, marking the first time he will compete in that race and the Giro d'Italia in the same year.

"I'm committed to riding for the best guy," Armstrong said Monday, acknowledging the taxing schedule could leave him riding in a supporting role in France.

Former Tour de France winner Alberto Contador will miss next year's Giro d'Italia and is a doubtful starter for the Spanish Vuelta in order to concentrate on the Tour de France.

Italian rider Riccardo Ricco has tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO during the Tour de France. He was booed by spectators when he was taken off the Saunier-Duval team bus by police Thursday.

Ricco was in ninth place overall and had won two of the 11 stages at this year's race. He was runnerup at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year.

It was the third doping case at this year's Tour de France, and came a day after Spanish rider Moises Duenas Nevado also was busted for using EPO.