After more than three years away from professional cycling, Lance Armstrong  the cancer survivor and seven-time Tour de France winner  announced Tuesday that he would emerge from retirement and climb back onto his bike.

Armstrong, who will turn 37 next week, spoke briefly about his decision in a videotaped statement posted on his foundation’s Web site.

“Hey everybody, I know there’s been a lot of reports in the media today about a possible return to racing,” he said, wearing a white T-shirt and leaning toward what seemed to be a handheld camera. “Just want to let you know that after long talks with my kids, the rest of my family, a close group of friends, I have decided to return to professional cycling in 2009.”

Armstrong provided few details, but he said he was making the comeback to begin an international cancer strategy. He did not return telephone messages, but in an e-mail statement he said his return would “raise awareness of the global cancer burden.”