Lance Armstrong and RadioShack are forming a new cycling team that plans to compete in next year’s Tour de France.

Armstrong, a seven-time Tour winner and a cancer survivor who this year returned to cycling after 3½ years of retirement, also said Thursday that he expects to take part in running and triathlon events for Team RadioShack beginning in 2010.

“RadioShack has agreed to partner with us on this venture and ensure that this partnership and this team stays alive for years to come, continues to be at the head of the peloton,” Armstrong said in a video on his Livestrong Web site.

The 37-year-old Texan is riding in this year’s Tour with the Kazakh-funded Astana team. He was in third place overall after Thursday’s time trial, 5 minutes and 25 seconds behind teammate Alberto Contador.

“It’s a huge opportunity for us as an organization and as a cancer survivor. It’s pretty mega,” Armstrong added after the stage in Annecy, France.

Contacted by phone Thursday on his way to the Chicago Criterium, Bend’s Chris Horner told The Bulletin that he has spoken with Armstrong briefly about the possibility of riding for the new team. Horner rode for Astana this season but was left off the roster for the Tour de France.

“Lance has brought it up and (Astana manager) Johan (Bruyneel) has brought it up, but nothing’s for sure yet,” Horner said of his prospects for joining the RadioShack team. “I would assume we’ll be in talks. I like working with Johan and Lance, so it’s definitely a possibility. For me, right now, I don’t have a contract for next year. So I’m still on the market.”

Horner said that if he does join Team RadioShack, he wants to be assured a spot in the Tour.

“I haven’t talked with Johan, but if there’s a shot I wouldn’t make the Tour de France, then I don’t want to be part of the team,” Horner said. “And I want to be selected now, not a few days before the Tour starts.”

In a statement released by RadioShack, Armstrong said he has had “a great season so far” but is hoping for an even better one next year.

“To be able to compete for an American team comprised of the world’s top cyclists, supported by the best coaches and staff — I couldn’t be happier,” he said.

Armstrong did not indicate who else might join Team RadioShack, but he is expected to build a squad fully devoted to his ambitions, which would seem to help Horner’s chances of joining the team — Horner and Armstrong trained together before this year’s Tour. Armstrong has spent much of this year’s race in support of Contador, who is expected to join another team next season.

“I heard that Lance was launching a new structure,” Contador said. “But I just want to concentrate on winning the Tour and we will see afterwards.”

Horner said Thursday that he has watched nearly all of this year’s Tour on television. While Contador has been riding well, Horner said the Spaniard has put Astana in a tough position should something happen to Contador, such as a crash or injury. Contador dropped teammate Andreas Kloden during a climb in Wednesday’s stage.

“In general, Alberto’s just made it very difficult on the team in just about every way he can,” Horner said. “What he did yesterday (dropping Kloden) made it more difficult for the team to win if something happens to him. He’s done those things without any benefit. He’s caused a lot of problems within the team.”