Lance Armstrong to ride two stages of Tour de France route

Lance Armstrong will return to the Tour de France to ride two stages in the Massif Central region next month.

Armstrong will join fellow cancer survivor Geoff Thomas - the former England footballer - and his team of 10 amateur riders for two stages on Thursday July 16 and 17.

The American, who was stripped of his seven Tour titles and banned from organised sport for life for doping in 2012, will ride stage 13 (Muret to Rodez, 178.5km) and stage 14 (Rodez-Mende, 178.5km).

Thomas and his team are attempting to cycle each of the 21 stages a day before the professional race in a bid to raise £1m for Cure Leukaemia, the blood cancer charity he owes his life to.

The pair have faced stiff opposition from the cycling fraternity over Armstrong’s controversial return to France with International Cycling Union president Brian Cookson claiming it was “completely disrespectful” to all connected to the race.

“This is a charity bike ride, but we know Lance’s involvement in Le Tour has split opinion, so we’ve tried to be as respectful as possible to the Tour de France itself in terms of the stages he will be riding,” said Thomas.

“The stages Lance will be riding come towards the end of week two, when I know all the riders will need some support.

“After most of the team travelled to Aspen for a training camp with Lance a few weeks ago, I know his arrival will give them the encouragement they will need to carry on with this gruelling challenge and in turn raise as much money as possible for blood cancer patients.”

Thomas was given three months to live after being diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2003, but has been in remission since 2005.

Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996 which also spread to his brain, lungs and abdomen.

His chances of survival were described as “almost none” but following surgery and chemotherapy the Texan was declared cancer free in 1997.