Roche backs Armstrong decision to cycle Tour De France route for charity

Ireland’s Stephen Roche says Lance Armstrong should be allowed to take part in a cycle along the route of the Tour de France.

Armstrong - who was stripped of all seven of his Tour de France titles for doping - looks set to tackle the course a day ahead of the main race with ex-footballer Geoff Thomas.

Thomas, who himself successfully battled leukaemia, is riding the 2015 Tour de France route ahead of the peloton to raise money for his Cure Leukaemia charity.

He has asked Armstrong to join his group, who are hoping the cycle will raise up to £1m for the charity.

Lance Armstrong back on the Tour de France for Geoff Thomas's charity http://t.co/k7hspWKe35 via @MailSport

— Matt Lawton (@Lawton_Times) March 14, 2015

Former Tour de France winner Stephen Roche says it's a worthy cause.

“I believe in what he’s doing,” Roche said on Newstalk Breakfast this morning. “I know that by having Lance involved with Geoff Thomas in his charity to generate funds for leukemia, his overall picture will be a lot brighter.

“He will bring in a lot more money.”

Brian Cookson, president of cycling's governing body UCI, has warned the disgraced cyclist not to take part in the event.

"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 at a Sport Industry Breakfast Club.

"I think Lance would be well-advised not to take part in that."