New York - Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong is to become a father for the fourth time, the American confirmed.

The 37-year-old, who is to return to competitive racing in the Tour Down Under in Australia early next year after coming back from retirement, told the US TV station CNN that his girlfriend Anna Hansen was expecting a child.

Armstrong, who won the Tour seven times in a row from 1999 after successfully beating prostate cancer, also has three children with his former wife Kristin. (dpa)