LOS ANGELES – Seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong will return to competition at this week's Tour of the Gila in New Mexico after recovering from collarbone surgery, race organizers said Tuesday.

After initially being barred from riding in the five-day event because of an International Cycling Union (UCI) rule, Armstrong was subsequently cleared to compete as an individual.

The 37-year-old American, who broke his collarbone in four places during the first stage of Spain's Vuelta Castilla y Leon last month, will compete with Astana team mates Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner.

"They're on their way here and they should be in Silver City, New Mexico at around seven o'clock our time," race director Jack Brennan told Reuters in a telephone interview.

In a statement released by Astana, Armstrong said: "I'm excited to get back to competitive racing. The recovery training has been going well but nothing compares to getting back into the bunch and racing."

Armstrong, who had a stainless steel plate and 12 screws inserted to stabilize his fractured right collarbone a month ago, was given the go-ahead to compete this week after USA Cycling reached an agreement with the UCI.

Monday, the UCI had cited a rule that prevents top professional teams such as Astana from sending organized squads to national-level races.

Closer look

"We had some discussions with the UCI following their initial stance and they took a closer look at the rules," USA Cycling communications director Andy Lee told Reuters.

"There is a rule in the UCI rule book that allows for members of professional teams to compete in national-level events as individuals ... therefore Astana will be allowed to have three riders compete as individuals in the Tour de Gila.

"It's tremendous news. It's great to see Lance back racing again, and racing in the United States. It's certainly good for cycling in America and we are very excited about it."

The Tour of the Gila starts Wednesday and finishes on Sunday.

Armstrong, who returned to the sport this year after more than three years in retirement, intends to make his first appearance in the Giro d'Italia next month.

He is also due to race in July's Tour de France but fears French authorities could ban him because of a disagreement over his behavior at a doping test in March.