A report in France, by way of Spain, says that Lance Armstrong will be in Italy...and not California...in May.

In an interview with the French Vélo Magazine, and reported on the Spanish site Elmundo.es, Armstrong says that he will race the month-long Giro d'Italia, and not the eight-day Tour of California in May.

The key paragraph is this translation from the Spanish story: "After a few spring classics, Armstrong will run the Giro d'Italia, after its sponsor, well settled in California, he gave the green light to avoid running the Tour of California."

If this is true it will deal a severe blow to the California race, and bring into question the organizer's decision to have their event compete head-to-head with the 101st Giro in 2010.