World cycling chief Brian Cookson has hit out at drugs cheat Lance Armstrong’s plans to ride in this year’s Tour de France route for charity, branding them ‘completely disrespectful’.
Armstrong, stripped of his seven Tour titles for doping offences, has signed up to take part in the event, organised by former England football player Geoff Thomas.
The fundraising mission will see cyclists ride the route of the Tour one day ahead of the peloton, but Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) president Cookson wants Armstrong to reconsider.
“I’m sure that Geoff Thomas means well, but frankly, I think that’s completely inappropriate and disrespectful to the Tour, disrespectful to the current riders, and disrespectful to the UCI and the anti-doping community,” Cookson said.
“I think Armstrong would be well-advised not to take part in that.”
Armstrong was banned for life from competing in cycling and triathlon by the United States Anti-Doping Agency in August 2012 and Cookson said the Texan’s charitable motives did not make his stunt more palatable.
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