Lance Armstrong to join Geoff Thomas on Tour de France route

The disgraced drugs cheat will join cancer survivor Thomas and 10 amateur cyclists to ride the 13th stage between Muret and Rodez and the 14th stage between Rodez and Mende in southern France.

The stages take place on July 16-17. It means the American avoids the fanfare of the Grand Depart in Utrecht in the Netherlands and the procession in Paris.

Mr Thomas, aged 50, told a press conference at Edgbaston: "We know Lance's involvement has split opinion, so we've tried to be as respectful as possible.

"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."

The inclusion of Armstrong has sparked widespread criticism across the cycling and sporting world.

He was stripped of his record seven Tour de France titles and banned from most organised sports for life in 2012.

He later admitted he used performance-enhancing drugs in all his titles.

But Mr Thomas has remained defiant that the backlash over the decision to have the drugs cheat on board is outweighed by the increased exposure the event will get.

The event will see Thomas joined by 10 cyclists riding the Tour de France route one day ahead of the professionals, with the aim of raising money for Cure Leukaemia.

Thomas was given just three months to live in 2003 but having survived the disease has gone on to raise millions for charity.

He hopes to raise a further million by riding this year's route to celebrate 10 years in remission.

The money will go to Cure Leukaemia which was set up to by Professor Charlie Craddock who treated Mr Thomas.

The charity carries out vital work at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

The Tour de France - One Day Ahead starts on Friday, finishing in Paris on July 25.

To sponsor Geoff go to justgiving.com/Geoff-Thomas-2015