Cycling chief backs Armstrong comeback

Lance Armstrong is capable of winning an eighth Tour de France even if it is not his primary concern, according to International Cycling Union president Pat McQuaid.

Armstrong, who retired after winning a seventh tour title in 2005, announced his intention to return to the sport earlier this month.

Although the American insists he has designs on extending his winning run in cycling's most famous event, McQuaid believes his comeback is more closely linked to his work raising cancer awareness with the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

"He genuinely could win the Tour de France," McQuaid told BBC Radio's 'Five Live' of the testicular cancer survivor.

"But I don't think his primary motivation is to win the Tour de France. I think he has done as much as he can with his cancer foundation in terms of knowledge of it in the US and now he wants to globalise the foundation using the sport of cycling.

"Winning the tour is secondary but I think he has every intention of trying to do it."

On outlining his plans to re-enter the sport, Armstrong also said he was motivated by the desire to finally prove wrong unfounded allegations of doping in his 1999 victory.

In 2006, an independent investigator appointed by the International Cycling Union cleared Armstrong of any wrongdoing in his first Tour win and McQuaid believes the doubters are misguided.

"To all sceptics I would say: 'Give him a chance'. I don't believe he's a cheat," McQuaid added.

"He will be outlining his testing plans, all of which will be run by independent groups and totally transparent. He will be racing under the same conditions as everyone else.

"He must already be in the system for several months and he has already been tested out of competition for the last couple of months and that will continue throughout the season."