- Title: CYCLING-ARMSTRONG/TOUR Lance Armstrong rides part of the Tour de France route
- Date: 16th July 2015
- Summary: VENERQUE, NEAR TOULOUSE, FRANCE (JULY 16, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CAMERAMAN BUS CARRYING LANCE ARMSTRONG ARRIVES MEDIA ARMSTRONG GETS OFF OF BUS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LANCE ARMSTRONG ANSWERING QUESTION ABOUT CHRIS FROOME SAYING: "That's exactly..I don't know. It's not my job to give opinions on that, I watch the race just like everybody." R
- Embargoed: 31st July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVACUJZV01G3IUDPJS4Z5XU48EC8
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong, taking part in a charity ride, made a low key return to the Tour de France route on Thursday (July 16).
Armstrong was awaited by dozens of journalists in a supermarket car park in southern France ahead of his ride to Rodez, but no fans were there to greet the American.
Armstrong, who was stripped of the seven Tour titles he won from 1999-2005 after admitting to doping following years of denial and bullying of those who confronted him, is taking part in Geoff Thomas's 'One Day Ahead' operation.
The American joins former England footballer Thomas and a team of amateurs, who are aiming to raise one million pounds ($1.57 million) for Cure Leukaemia, by cycling in two stages a day before the official peloton goes through.
Asked what kind of reception he was expecting from the French on the route, Armstrong said: "I don't know… this is a frenzy. But if I compare this experience to going to dinner last night in Toulouse with local people in a local restaurant with a local owner it's very different.
"People are always very nice and I enjoy, respect and appreciate that and I enjoy being here."
While Armstrong is riding to Rodez, the Tour de France peloton will go to the Plateau de Beille for a grueling 12th stage in the mountains.
Briton Chris Froome is the overall leader with a massive two-minute-52-second advantage over American Tejay van Garderen.
The Team Sky rider, whose performances have raised a few eyebrows in a sport tainted by multiple doping scandals.
Armstrong wrote on Twitter after Froome and his team humiliated their rivals in the 10th stage on Tuesday: "Clearly Froome/Porte/Sky are very strong. Too strong to be clean? Don't ask me, I have no clue."
Asked to comment on Froome's performances on Thursday, Armstrong said: "It's not my job to give opinions on that, I watch the race just like everybody.
"It's the first time in a couple of years I've watched the race. It's been an interesting first week with obviously a lot of drama in the race like crashes and wind and things like this that separate people.
"Chris Froome has been smart, he avoided all the problems," Armstrong said. "If you're leading the tour by three minutes that's impressive." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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