Berlin - Lance Armstrong will return to Europe later this month to continue his comeback season with races at Milan-San Remo and Spain's Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, his Astana team has confirmed.

Armstrong will ride the Milan-San Remo spring classic on March 21 before competing in Spain where he will race with co-captain Alberto Contador and where Astana say the American will focus on the time trial and two mountaintop finishes.

The decision means the seven-time Tour de France winner will not race in the Tour of Flanders one-day classic.

"Armstrong's focus for the season continues to be the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France," said Astana in a statement.

The 37-year-old Armstrong returned to cycling this year after three-and-a-half years in retirement. (dpa)