PARIS, March 2, 2009 (AFP) – Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong is to continue his build-up to this year’s Tour of Italy and Tour de France with two races in Europe later this month his Astana team announced on Monday.

The 37-year-old American – who returned to competitive cycling in January after a three-and-a-half year hiatus – will compete in the one day race Milan-Sanremo on March 21 and then the Tour of Castille and Leon in Spain from March 23-27.

The Spanish race will allow Armstrong to focus on the time trial and two mountaintop finishes.

At the conclusion of that race Armstrong will return to Austin to resume training in the States. Due to this training he will not compete in the Criterium International or the Tour of Flanders.

It is yet to be decided which races Armstrong will participate in prior to the Giro d’Italia.

Photo by: VeloImages / Bicycle.net