Lance cycles Le Tour for charity

DISGRACED cyclist Lance Armstrong returned to the French roads yesterday as he began a Tour de France stage ride for charity.

Armstrong’s arrival in Muret, southwest France, was met with fervent media attention as he joined former England footballer Geoff Thomas and a team of 11 amateurs in their bid to raise £ 1 million ( R19m) for Cure Leukaemia. The stage from Muret to Rodez is one of two that he will participate in, with the second taking place from Rodez to Mende today.

Both stages of the charity ride take place a day ahead of the professionals’ itinerary on the tour – but Armstrong’s involvement in this year’s cause has been widely criticised.

In October 2012, the 43-year-old was stripped of his seven Tour de France victories by the UCI, cycling’s governing body, because of systematic doping.

The following year, the Texan-born cyclist admitted in a damning interview with Oprah Winfrey that he indeed doped during the sport’s blue ribbon event and throughout his career.

Armstrong’s announcement to race for charity had caused much debate from those within the cycling world.

Speaking in April, UCI president Brian Cookson strongly advised the American against riding again.

“There are a lot of people already out on the course the day before the tour and I am not so sure they would be delighted to see Lance Armstrong, so maybe he needs to bear that in mind.

“It is undesirable, I think it is disrespectful. I think there are plenty of ways of raising money for charity that Lance could do.” – Daily Mail