Shropshire cycling organiser in call to ban Lance Armstrong from charity ride
The co-organiser of Shropshire's best-known cycling event has backed a cycling chief who criticised Lance Armstrong's involvement in former Wolves star Geoff Thomas's Tour de France charity event.
Nick Jeggo, co-organiser of Newport Nocturne cycle event and chairman of Newport Cycling Club, said: "I am no fan of Lance Armstrong as he has given the sport a bad name.
"I'm not sure if it is good publicity to have him involved when he has been shown to be a liar and a cheat. Geoff Thomas is an inspiration and it is a disappointment that he is allying himself to someone not quite so admirable. I'm not sure how inappropriate it is."
Leukaemia survivor and fundraiser Thomas has asked the drugs cheat to join him when he rides the route of the famous race this summer. Armstrong is currently banned from taking part in all competitive sporting events.
Brian Cookson, president of cycling body UCI, said it was 'inappropriate' and that Armstrong would be 'well advised' not to take part.
But 50-year-old Thomas, who played for Wolves for four years and still lives in the West Midlands, has defended the move.
The UCI has no authority to stop Armstrong's involvement but Mr Cookson said: "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."
Ex-England international Thomas said he understood why people might find it hard to accept Armstrong's support.
But the cancer survivor told how the disgraced cyclist had played an important role in a 'critical' time of his life.
Thomas recently visited Armstrong, aged 43, at his home it Texas and said: "I understand that some people will find it hard to accept Armstrong's support but my take is a simple one: If Armstrong's involvement in Le Tour – One Day Ahead and my goal to raise £1 million for blood cancer can help save one more life then surely that can only be a good thing."
The event will see Thomas joined by 20 cyclists riding the entire Tour de France route one day ahead of the professionals, with the aim of raising cash for Cure Leukaemia.
