French minister says Armstrong will be ‘particularly monitored’ for doping during Tour

August 24th, 2009 Vinokourov returns to Astana after doping banLONDON — All apparently is forgiven. Alexandre Vinokourov is returning to Astana two years after his positive test for blood doping forced the team to withdraw from cycling's premier event and caused it to be banned from the race in 2008.

July 26th, 2009 Alberto Contador wins Tour de France againPARIS — Alberto Contador won the Tour de France for a second time Wednesday, and Lance Armstrong capped his return to the race with an impressive third-place finish. Mark Cavendish of Britain collected his sixth stage win of this year's Tour in a sprint after the 101.9-mile course ride from Montereau-Fault-Yonne to the Champs-Elysees.

July 26th, 2009 French agency to retest 2008 Tour samplesPARIS — The French anti-doping agency will retest some blood samples from last year's Tour de France, mainly for the banned blood-booster CERA. About 15 riders will be affected by the retesting, AFLD president Pierre Bordry said Sunday.

July 23rd, 2009 Armstrong vies for podium in Tour's 18th stageANNECY, France — The 18th-stage time trial is under way at the Tour de France, with Lance Armstrong needing a comeback if he wants a place on the podium when the race ends Sunday in Paris. Alberto Contador has a comfortable grip on the yellow jersey, and the fourth-place Armstrong is looking to overcome brothers Andy and Frank Schleck, who bumped the Texan from second a day earlier.

July 19th, 2009 15th stage of Tour de France under wayPONTARLIER, France — Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong is facing a tough test as the first Alpine stage of the Tour de France has gotten under way between Pontarlier and the Swiss ski resort of Verbier. Fourth-placed Armstrong was 8 seconds behind overall leader Rinaldo Nocentini as riders set out Sunday on the 128.9-mile 15th stage.

July 17th, 2009 Hinault: Contador will win again _ not ArmstrongCOLMAR, France — Five-time Tour de France champion Bernard Hinault believes that Lance Armstrong won't win this year's race, saying the American's rivalry with Astana teammate Alberto Contador is motivating the Spaniard. In an interview in Friday's edition of French sports newspaper L'Equipe, Hinault claimed Armstrong's age — 37 — and Contador's superior climbing skills mean the American won't win the Tour an eighth time, breaking his own record.

July 17th, 2009 Armstrong lashes out at French sports ministerCOLMAR, France — Lance Armstrong is fed up with criticism of his Astana team by the French sports minister. Roselyne Bachelot said Astana riders at the Tour de France remained out of sight of an International Cycling Union inspector too long during a random doping test last week.

July 8th, 2009 Armstrong apologizes to Sastre and Vande VeldeMONTPELLIER, France — Lance Armstrong said he was wrong and disrespectful when he called last year's Tour de France a "bit of a joke." In the new book, "Lance — The Making of the World's Greatest Champion" by John Wilcockson, Armstrong is said to have recounted his early musings about a possible comeback after the 2008 Tour, won by Carlos Sastre. "The Tour was a bit of a joke this year.

July 8th, 2009 Armstrong just off lead as Tour's 5th stage beginsCAP D'AGDE, France — Lance Armstrong was trailing race leader Fabian Cancellara by a fraction of a second as Tour de France riders left for the fifth stage along the Mediterranean coast. Breakaway riders are expected to shine in Wednesday's 122-mile ride from Le Cap d'Agde to Perpignan, though the finale could also involve a sprint.

July 3rd, 2009 Tour ready for start with Armstrong backMONACO — The Tour de France is ready for another edition with Lance Armstrong, and Saturday's opening stage may show whether he's ready to challenge for another title. Armstrong's 37-year-old legs will be tested immediately when the three-week race begins with a 9.6-mile time trial.

July 3rd, 2009 Armstrong under doping watch at TourPARIS — France's sports minister says Lance Armstrong will be "particularly monitored" in anti-doping checks at the Tour de France this year. Roselyne Bachelot, speaking in an interview on French cable TV on Friday, sent the warning to the seven-time Tour winner who has come out of retirement to race again in cycling's showcase.

July 2nd, 2009 At Tour, Armstrong could finally win French heartsMONACO — For all of Lance Armstrong's Tour de France victories, he still hasn't won the hearts of the French. That may be about to change.

June 30th, 2009 AP Interview: Armstrong set for Tour support rolePARIS — Lance Armstrong says he's capable of winning an eighth Tour de France but is ready, if necessary, to put his ambitions on hold for teammate and rival Alberto Contador. Contador and Armstrong will ride for the Astana team at the three-week race that starts Saturday.

June 28th, 2009 Anti-doping chief vows Tour fairness for ArmstrongPARIS — When Lance Armstrong and France's anti-doping agency were at odds last spring over a surprise doping test, the seven-time Tour de France champion's return to the Tour appeared to fade. Since then, tensions have eased.

June 5th, 2009 Lance Armstrong announces birth of son on TwitterLance Armstrong has announced the birth of his son on the social-networking site Twitter. Armstrong, who won the Tour de France seven straight years after overcoming testicular cancer, posted a tweet about 11:15 p.m.