Cycling champ Armstrong plays down retirement rumours

London, Jan 25(ANI): American cycling champion Lance Armstrong has hinted that 2010 will not be his final year as a racing cyclist.

Earlier, certain media reports had said the 38-year-old, winner of a record seven Tours de France, would announce his retirement this year.

"I suspect I'll be doing some racing in 2011. I don't know if it will be a full schedule," The Mirror quoted Armstrong, as saying.

Armstrong returned to race riding last year after a three-and-a-half-year retirement and finished third in the Tour behind then team-mate Alberto Contador.

The rivalry between them is set to continue this year, with Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) president Pat McQuaid saying that it is healthy for the sport.

Armstrong further insisted that winning an eighth Tour de France title would be difficult, but not impossible.

"I think I can win the Tour again. I might be a fool to think that, but I'm going to go down my foolish way and find out," Armstrong said.

"It's something I think would be possible. It's going to be the hardest one to win. The competition is better than it ever has been before," he added. (ANI)