The achievement would equal the record of Frenchman Jacques Anquetil, who won four times in a row from 1961 to 1964.

Armstrong told the daily newspaper L'Equipe: "The Tour is and always will be my main goal.

"I love this race from the very depths of my heart. It gives me motivation and it transcends me like nothing else in the world."

When asked about the route for the 2002 race, Armstrong said: "If you really think about it, the Tour never really changes from one year to the next.

"You always have to pass through the Alps and the Pyrenees and you always have to take on a couple of crucial time-trials.

"But it's hard to say if this particular itinerary suits me or disadvantages me.

"What I can say, is I'm really keen to face the Mont Ventoux. It's a very special climb which gives me special feelings."

The exhausting climb up Mont Ventoux was in the 2000 Tour and was the scene of one of Armstrong's most impressive performances.

Armstrong, who plans to train in Arizona and in Spain in January, has lined up the Tour of Murcia in March for his first race of the season.

Meeting the fans

And he confirmed he might also ride in three of the spring classics.

"I'll go to Milan-San Remo and to the Tour of Flanders but I have not made up my mind for Liege-Bastogne-Liege yet," he said.

The Texan will then go on a reconnaissance of the Tour's route before its start in Luxembourg on 6 July.

"It's an important part of the preparation, for three reasons at least. First you need to produce intense physical effort in the climbs you will have to pass.

"Mentally, you need to know what you can expect, especially in the mountain stages.

"And third, you need to leave some of yourself by the side of the road, to meet people, to take pictures and to sign autographs - all that you can't do during the race."

The record for most consecutive wins belongs to Spaniard Miguel Indurain, who triumphed five times from 1991 to 1995.