Lance Armstrong Makes Tour Return For Charity

The Spaniard had already won the third stage finish on the Mur de Huy and also had a stage victory back in 2010, but he wants more.

Jean-Christophe Peraud, last year’s runner-up, is riding battered and bloodied at the Tour de France after taking a nasty spill at high speed on the flat on Stage 13.

The response this week from French media and team managers has been similarly negative although the head of the race, Christian Prudhomme, pointed out that “one day before the Tour, the road is open to anyone”.

“I was just testing the legs”, Froome said.

“You’ve got to look up to what Geoff Thomas is doing because as I’ve said earlier in the race, I support his cause”.

Speaking on his arrival in France on Wednesday, Armstrong told Sky Sports News: “Anything regarding a bike race is going to be closely scrutinised and questioned”.

The scrutiny Froome is under is in no small part a legacy of Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of his record seven Tour titles for doping, finally confessing in February 2013 after years of denials. “He’s not on the starting line with us”, said the 30-year-old Briton. “I thought I’d caught second“.

He added: “I’m focused on my race, I’m focused on my rivals, my team-mates, actually how things are out on the road”.

Temperatures dropped from 38 degrees Celsius to 12 degrees at one point but superbly marshalled by teammates Richie Porte and the indefatigable Geraint Thomas, Froome managed his lead to bat away all challengers.

Heading to France to take part in a charity ride, Armstrong refused to apologise for that tweet, but did defend Froome saying he should not be forced to deal with constant questioning on the subject because of his own conduct.

Froome was 10th home – six minutes 47 seconds behind – but knowing he was another step nearer being crowned champion in Paris on Sunday week.

Stage 12 crested four categorised climbs on its 195km journey from Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille in the Pyrenees and was billed as the hardest of this year’s race.

In the wake of Froome’s stage-10 victory on Tuesday, the American wrote: “Clearly Froome/(Richie) Porte/Sky are very strong”.

“Froome has an advantage but I feel good and as long as there are still mountains to come I won’t be throwing in the towel”, said the 25-year-old Colombian.

But he also continues to play the “Ya know, I wasn’t the only one doping!” card.

The Team Sky star was two minutes and 52 seconds ahead of American Tejay van Garderen in the overall standings. Chris Froome has been smart.

The soft-eyed Slovak with the Tinkoff Saxo Bank team consolidated his lead in the battle for the green jersey given to the best sprinter, gaining on second-placed rival Andre Greipel.

Like an unwanted ghost, Lance Armstrong has returned to the fringes of the Tour de France on a money-raising ride ahead of the showcase race he once ruled.