CYCLING

ARMSTRONG TO TRAIN WITH TEAM THIS WINTER

Lance Armstrong plans to train with his Discovery Channel team this winter, increasing speculation he will end his retirement and attempt an eighth straight Tour de France win.

“He absolutely wants to be part of the training camp in December and wants to get fit to compete with the guys there,” Discovery Channel team director Johan Bruyneel told the Associated Press yesterday, adding that Armstrong can decide to return as late as February.

Armstrong, who announced his engagement Monday to rock singer Sheryl Crow, issued a statement Tuesday confirming that he’s considering a comeback in part to rankle the French press. On August 23, sports daily L’Equipe, which is owned by the Tour organizer, reported it had evidence that six of Armstrong’s urine samples from the 1999 Tour tested positive last year for the blood booster EPO. The substance was banned in 1999, but there was no reliable test at the time.

BASKETBALL

DAMON JONES SIGNS FOUR-YEAR DEAL WITH CLEVELAND

Free agent point guard Damon Jones has reached agreement on a four-year, $16.1 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his agent Mark Termini said yesterday. The 29-year-old Jones averaged 11.6 points and 4.3 assists in 66 games last season.

HOCKEY

ISLANDERS INK DIPIETRO TO ONE-YEAR PACT

Rick DiPietro, the first goal-tender chosen with the top pick in the NHL draft, signed a $2.5 million, one-year contract with the Islanders yesterday. He was 23-18-5 with five shutouts and a 2.36 goals against average with the Islanders during the 2003-04 season, his third in the NHL. DiPietro, taking part in this week’s U.S. Olympic orientation camp, was chosen by the Islanders with the no. 1 pick in the 2000 draft after one year at Boston University.

– Associated Press