ARMSTRONG PRESS CONFERENCE: PHOTO GALLERY

Lance Armstrong Astana press conference Tenerife Dec 08

Lance Armstrong's comeback to professional cycling gathered more pace this week when the seven-times Tour de France winner joined his 2009 Astana team-mates in Tenerife and held a press conference to the assembled media.

Armstrong was joined on the stage by team-mate and 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador and team manager Johan Bruyneel. The Texan answered a range of questions fielded by journalists, which covered everything from his feeling towards the French to using Twitter.

One surprise announcement was Armstrong's interest in riding the Tour of Ireland. He hinted that the Irish stage race would fit into his 2009 schedule and plans to take his LiveStrong cancer initiative to a wider, global audience.

You can read the whole transcript of the conference in our news section.

Photos by Andy Jones

Lance Armstrong

Armstrong arrives at the press conference

Lance Armstrong

Media from all over the world descended on Tenerife to see Armstrong and Contador

Lance Armstrong

Armstrong and Astana team manager Johan Bruyneel

Lance Armstrong

The seven-times Tour winner fields questions from the press

Lance Armstrong

Team solidarity, or arm-wrestling match? Armstrong and Contador shake on it

Lance Armstrong

Alberto Contador and Johan Bruyneel

Lance Armstrong

Lance returns fire

Lance Armstrong

Having a laugh

RELATED LINKS

Armstrong to ride Tour of Ireland?

Lance Armstrong press conference transcript

Lance Armstrong: Exclusive interview

Armstrong trains with Contador for first time

Armstrong to ride 2009 Tour de France

Armstrong: still no drug-testing program

Armsrong visits Paris but doesn't want to talk about Tour de France

Armstrong speaks to Cycle Sport

Armstrong vs Hincapie at Tour Down Under

Armstrong to meet Tour officials before deciding on participation

Armstrong still playing it cool over Tour

Armstrong says he could not have hoped for a different Tour

Contador to stay with Astana and Armstrong

Lance Armstrong's Tour de France comeback in doubt

Armstrong to ride the 2009 Giro d'Italia

Armstrong rejects offer to re-test 1999 samples

Armstrong knew about six month rule

French offer Armstrong re-test of his 1999 Tour samples

Amrstrong hopes UCI show 'common sense' for Aussie return

Armstrong comeback in Tour Down Under faces possible delays

Watch Armstrong in Vegas 'Cross race

Armstrong confirms Ventoux time trial for 2009?

Armstrong's comeback starts in Australia

Wednesday Comment (September 24)

Contador says riding with Lance could be difficult

UCI president rubbishes Armstrong Tour buyout claims

Bruyneel talks up Armstrong's chances

The Wednesday Comment, Armstrong Edition (September 10)

Tour de France: Lance can race in 2009

Contador: Lance could win eighth Tour

Lance confirms 2009 comeback

Armstrong: No smoke without fire?

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