ROME, Dec 13, 2008 (AFP) – The 2009 Tour of Italy, which will welcome former Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong for the first time, will start its centenary edition in Venice on May 9 and finish in Rome on May 31, organisers said in unveiling the 3,395.5km route on Saturday.

The race, which Spaniard Alberto Contador won this year, will comprise 21 stages and take in major cities including Milan (where the race usually finishes), Turin, Florence, Bologna and Naples.

Contador said in October he intended to give Italy a wide berth to concentrate instead on the Tour in a season where he will have seven-time Tour de France winner and Giro debutant Armstrong, back in the sport four years after retiring, as a teammate following the latter’s arrival in the Astana team.

The pair have just come off several days of intensive training in the Canary Islands.

Even if Contador does miss the Giro, Armstrong says he is looking forward to the experience.

Rome “is really a magical city (which) I never experienced until last year”, said Armstrong, revealing he had been enthralled on that occasion and swiftly “fell in love” with the capital as a tourist.

“I’m very excited to come next May to your country and compete in the first Giro for me,” the Texan told Gazzetta dello Sport’s website in an interview, noting that he had spent several years living by Lake Como but making the Tour de France his overriding aim.

“This is a special year for many reasons – obviously the 100th year anniversary,” he said, forecasting an exciting race from the off as it will head into the Alps in week one.

Then comes the May 21 61.7km individual time trial from Sestri Levante to Riomaggiore, which Armstrong said could prove a make-or-break day.

“The second week I think is highlighted by the long time-trial. I’ve never done a time trial of 62 km. This will be a critical day in the Giro,” he said, ahead of further “tricky stages” in the final week, including stage 19, a 164 km ride from Vesuvio which “will be a test for all of us”.

Instead of the Giro, Contador this year has his sights set on the Tour de France after his team was not invited last year meaning he could not defend his 2007 French crown.

That could let in Armstrong, although Italian Ivan Basso – back after a two-year doping ban – compatriots Damiano Cunego and Danilo Di Luca and Spanish Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre will also push hard for glory.

Armstrong said that Basso was his favourite.

Adding a touch of glamor Italian couturiers Dolce and Gabbana will help to design the famous pink jersey.

The first stage will comprise a team time-trial and finish with an individual time-trial over 15.3km in the capital.