Lance Armstrong has not ruled out extending his comeback to have a crack at the 2010 Tour de France.

The 37-year-old seven-time champion is currently third in the race’s general classification, only eight seconds behind Italian Rinaldo Nocentini, after the ninth stage on Sunday.

Ahead of a second week of racing which could well decide this year’s yellow jersey, the American who initially retired after his record seventh victory in 2005 said he may return to the race next year.

Asked on French television whether this would be his last participation at the Tour de France, Armstrong said: “Probably not.”