MILAN, Italy, March 20, 2009 (AFP) – American cycling legend Lance Armstrong will meet with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi before competing in the Giro d’Italia on May 9-June 1 in a bid to raise awareness of the threat of cancer in Italy.

Armstrong, a cancer survivor who went on to claim a record seven Tour de France crowns, ended a three and a half year retirement in January in Australia where he was successful in lobbying the government to increase spending into fighting the disease.

The 37-year-old American said then he would make similar efforts to spread awareness of the disease in every country he visits this year, and on Friday told reporters he would hope to do the same in Italy.

“I will meet with Silvio Berlusconi before the Giro (d’Italia) to speak about the fight against cancer in Italy,” Armstrong told a press conference here a day ahead of competing in the season’s first one-day classic at Milan-San Remo.

Photo by: VeloImages / Bicycle.net