MORE: Tour de France 2015: Results, leader, overall standings after Stage 12
He is certainly a polarising figure, but disgraced former Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has returned to France under intense scrutiny despite his charitable cause.
All eyes were on Armstrong, as he retuned to the Tour route where he claimed seven consecutive victories before being stripped of the titles for ’systematic doping strategies’.
The 43-year-old was swamped by reporters, as he appears in France to take part in a charity event, the ‘One Day Ahead’ ride.
The charity, organised by former England football international Geoff Thomas, aims to raise money for leukaemia research.
Armstrong was invited to take part in the event, however understands that he may not be welcome at the most prestigious cycling event in the world.
“I understand people’s reactions,” Armstrong said.
I greatly dislike the way Lance Armstrong is so clearly revelling in being back at the centre of things at the Tour.
— Michael Hutchinson (@Doctor_Hutch) July 16, 2015“I understand there are still some hurt feelings and that’s a process I’ll walk through for a long, long time.
“It’s nice to be back, yes… helping a good cause and helping Geoff. Geoff started a great thing. He asked me to come. He made a real passionate effort, so I decided to do it.”
For me it is. #7tdf #tdf @lancearmstrong @letour pic.twitter.com/pYB95g5YaT
— Andrea Polo (@SuperPolacco) July 16, 2015Armstrong however, does not expect to receive any sympathy as he completes in the charity event, and it appears he’ll get none.
A number of Tour chiefs have labelled the 1999-2005 winner of the race "disrespectful" for taking part in the ride, which attacks each of the race’s 21 stages a day ahead of the competitors.
The American’s appearance in France was also met with strong opposition from at least one Tour team, Bretagne-Seiche.
#TDF2015 You can ride anywhere . @lancearmstrong But no trouble in your mind to steal media interest to riders like ours who never cheated?
— Bretagne-Séché (@EquipeBSE) July 16, 2015 The former champion continued his staunch belief that he has been made a scapegoat for a sport that was rife with drug-takings during Armstrong’s incredible reign.
“Why am I not welcome? Because I’m a doper?” Armstrong said.
“If that were the rule, the caravan would almost be empty.
@GeoffThomasGTF @cjeastham @TdF1DayAhead @lancearmstrong It's a shame lance is getting more press than you Geoff. Keep it up.
— Simon Warren (@100Climbs) July 16, 2015“I don’t mean the riders in this Tour.
“We all rode in an unfortunate era, but if you’re going to apply a standard it has to be universal.”
Armstrong spoke about his sense of responsibility over his doping accusations against current race leader Chris Froome, but responded by saying that he understood his legacy as a drug cheat would live with him forever in France.