Lance Armstrong will make his comeback at the Tour de France this year after he was confirmed in Team Astana's nine-man team for the cycling event.

Armstrong joins 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador in the lineup, having successfully completed his return to the sport over the past several months after more than three years in retirement.

Astana team principle Johan Bruyneel said he is "very happy with Lance's form leading up to the Tour" and expects the experienced American, 38, to make a big impact in 2009.

"I think racing the Giro was a very smart decision and really prepared him for July," Bruyneel claimed.

"He's worked very hard during his comeback season and I know he is extremely motivated for the Tour de France."

The Texan's participation had been put in doubt after a bad fall he suffered in one of his warm-up events - the five day stage race Vuelta Castilla y Leon in Spain.

Armstrong broke his collarbone and there were fears he would not recover in time to make Le Tour lineup for next month's opening stage.

The rest of Team Astana is comprised of Andreas Kloden, Levi Leipheimer, Dmitriy Muravyev, Sergio Paulinho, Yaroslav Popovych, Gregory Rast and Haimar Zubeldia, who were all unveiled on the team's website today.