Italy finally gets its man

Let’s see.

Lance Armstrong is still working through the discomfort of a broken collarbone. He is reportedly conducting negotiations to buy his financially struggling Astana team. He is expecting a fourth child in June. He is 37 and is making a cycling comeback, the success of which will be determined by many by how he does in two races -- the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.

Armstrong begins his first-ever Giro today with goals subdued by the injury he suffered in March when he crashed at a race in Spain and broke his collarbone badly enough that it needed a plate and 12 screws.

Last Saturday in Silver City, N.M., Armstrong was relaxed and reflective on the morning before the criterium of the Tour of Gila, a five-day tour of the mountains of southeastern New Mexico.

He and Astana teammates Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner spoke of many things, including financial difficulties of the Astana team and Armstrong’s willingness to ride in support of Leipheimer, who went on to win the Tour of Gila just has he had the Amgen Tour of California last February, also with Armstrong riding in the supporting role.

In Armstrong’s heyday, when he was winning a record-setting seven consecutive Tour de France races, he never rode the Giro, a race full of history but one which, according to Armstrong, interfered with his preparations for the world’s biggest race.

When Armstrong announced a comeback after a retirement of 3 1/2 years, it was the Giro that was first on Armstrong’s schedule, even before he decided to race in France in July.

“Outside the Tour [de France], the Giro is as big as they get,” Armstrong said in New Mexico. Look at the names that have won stages, from Eddy Merckx to Fausto Coppi to Andy Hampsten to Miguel Indurain, all the greats went there and did it and most of them went there and won.

“The Giro is mythical, not many events have that mystique and it’s the 100-year anniversary so I thought it would be cool to ride.”

Armstrong’s goal for himself is to win a stage, something he hasn’t yet done in his comeback that began in January at the Tour Down Under.

He said the favorites for the Giro have to be Italians, most notably Ivan Basso.

But Armstrong also said that Leipheimer is a true contender.

“He’s strong, he’s been winning, he’s in great condition,” Armstrong said. “All our efforts will go to him.”

The race begins in Venice and at a team news conference Thursday, Armstrong and Astana director Johan Bruyneel addressed issues of financial instability with the team by saying they were looking for U.S. investors.

Armstrong also said that at some point in the future he is interested in partial ownership of the team.

If that happened, it would become the third major American-based team.

Garmin-Slipstream, based in Boulder, Colo., will place Chicago’s Christian Vande Velde as its leader for the Giro and team director Matt White said he also expected Garmin to do well in the team time trial, which kicks off the race today.

Columbia-Highroad, based in San Luis Obispo, is counting on sprint star Mark Cavendish to win a stage or two and is also considered a favorite in the team time trial.

Universal Sports announced a multi-year deal Friday to broadcast the Giro beginning today at 6 a.m. PDT with the Stage 1 team time trial.

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diane.pucin@latimes.com