Intro:

Former Tour de France champion and one-time cycling legend Lance Armstrong completed a two-day charity ride a day in advance of Tour de France stages 13 and 14 on Friday - with the aim of raising awareness and funds in the fight against cancer.

Script:

Lance Armstrong, the disgraced cyclist, returned to the scene of his greatest deceptions this week.

The American, stripped of his seven Tour victories after having masterminded what the USADA described as "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen" - cycled with former footballer Geoff Thomas, who is raising funds to fight Leukaemia.

The pair, and several other amateur riders, were tackling the Tour route a day ahead of the actual race to raise money for charity.

Armstrong rode two stages, starting with Thursday's trek from Venerque to Rodez and finishing with the Rodez to Mende stage on Friday.

Riding with amateurs and without legions of of fanslining the route on is a major step down from Armstrong's heyday from 1999-2005, when winning the Tour turned the cancer survivor into a superstar.

Armstrong's return to French cycling routes were received with mixed feelings both by the media and by fans.