Armstrong-Contador date in Castilla y León

Team Astana has announced that Lance Armstrong will ride Milano-Sanremo on March 21, followed immediately by the Vuelta a Castilla y León. He'll be using the Spanish race as a testing ground for competing with teammate Alberto Contador, as the pair prepares for the Tour de France later this year.

There has been talk all season so far as to when and where the seven-time Tour victor would ride with the 2007 Tour champ, and although it's no secret that the American wanted to ride La Primavera, his participation in the latter event is somewhat of a surprise for fans.

Astana management said that the four-day Spanish stage race would be a good chance for Armstrong to focus on the time trial and two mountaintop finishes, and at the conclusion of the event would he would be heading back to the US to resume training. There will be no participation in the Critérium International or the Tour of Flanders.

The team would announce at a later date the races Armstrong would participate in following Castilla y León and prior to the Giro d'Italia.