Paris - Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is welcome to join next year's edition of the famous race, Tour organizers said Thursday.

"If nothing happens in the next few months, there is nothing that speaks against Astana's participation," Tour director Christian Prudhomme said.

Armstrong, 37, announced in New York on Wednesday that he would return to cycling with the Astana team in 2009. He previously rode for the US Postal team, which then became the Discovery Channel team.

The Kazakhstan-based team, which is captained by 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador, was barred from competing in this year's Tour after they had been embroiled in several doping scandals in 2006 and 2007.

However, it is unclear whether Contador will stay at the team now that Armstrong has joined, Spanish news reports said Thursday.

"I want to challenge for the Tour de France next year, with, or without Armstrong," Contador was quoted as saying.

"If obstacles are placed in my way en route to this goal, I will be forced to look elsewhere. I have already received a number of offers."

However, Contador has not dismissed the possibility of being in the same team as Armstrong.

"First I need to speak to Astana team director Johan Bruyneel and with Lance himself. I need to see what their plans are like," the 25- year-old told the Marca sports daily.

"People expect there to be problems. But I have nothing against Armstrong. To have him part of the Astana team would be a further motivating factor for me," he said, adding that in many other sports it is not unusual to have more than one leader.

Contador had earlier said that he deserved to remain team captain.