Armstrong should have kept Tour jerseys, claims Roche

Irish cycling legend Stephen Roche believes disgraced American cyclist Lance Armstrong should be given back the seven Tour de France jerseys he was stripped of after being found guilty of taking performance enhancing drugs throughout his career.

Roche, who won the Tour himself in 1987 said doping has been a part of the sport and “you can’t not have winners for seven years”.

Roche said: “Armstrong should stay on that list (of winners). In the history of the race you can’t not have a winner for seven years. Doping has been part of sport, not only for cycling, for decades.