Lance Armstrong names two Tour de France stages he will ride this year

DISGRACED cyclist Lance Armstrong has identified the two stages he will complete one day ahead of the Tour de France next month in a ride for charity.

(FILES) TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY IAN WHITTELL A file photo taken on July 21, 2010 shows US cyclist Lance Armstrong as he arrives to participate in a training session during the second of the two rest days of the 2010 Tour de France cycling race at the hotel hosting the US cycling team in Pau, south west France. AFP PHOTO / NATHALIE MAGNIEZ

LANCE Armstrong has identified the two stages he will ride one day ahead of the Tour de France next month in a charity ride with former England footballer and fellow cancer survivor Geoff Thomas.

Thomas and Armstrong have met opposition since joining forces as to raise $2 million for Cure Leukaemia, not least from ICU president Brian Cookson.

Armstrong is a self-confessed drug cheat.

“We know Lance’s involvement in Le Tour has split opinion so we’ve tried to be as respectful as possible to the Tour de France itself in terms of the stages he will be riding,” said Thomas.

“The stages Lance will be riding come towards the end of week two, when I know all the riders will need some support.

“I know his arrival will give them the encouragement they will need to carry on with this gruelling challenge and in turn raise as much money as possible for blood cancer patients.”

Armstrong will ride the 198.5km 13th stage between Muret and Rodez on 16 July and the 198.5km 14th stage from Rodez to Mende the next day.

The American was stripped of his record seven Tour titles and banned from most organised sport for life by the US Anti-Doping Agency in 2012.

He admitted in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that he had used performance-enhancing drugs during all of his Tour successes and news of his return to France and the race that forged his legend before his very public downfall has caused controversy within the sport.