France loves Lance Armstrong as he takes on Tour de France route

Free from the lonely isolation of the last three years.

He was back on the saddle. And back at the scene of sport's biggest crime.

"People may question the relationship between me and this country but I have always loved it," he says.

And while cycling's hierarchy has condemned his appearance at this year's Tour, the adoring French public were not shy in posing for selfies or asking for autographs with the star.

"He is box office," says Geoff Thomas. "You can see that by just looking around."

The former Wolves midfielder is responsible for creating the biggest sport story, some would say scandal, of the year by inviting his idol to take part on the charity bike ride covering the Tour de France route a day before the official peloton.

Armstrong hopes by taking part he can once again be in the public eye without being a figure of hate.

His team hopes this experience will propel him back into the spotlight for the right reasons by being the magic anecdote to his now toxic brand.

From an inspiring story of triumphing over a cruel disease and returning to winning form, the champion cyclist ended up a disgraced drugs cheat.

He stands out like a sore thumb next to former Wolves and England footballer Geoff Thomas, a survivor of leukaemia and a legend in the Black Country, taking part in a gruelling week riding through southern France.

Armstrong's dishonour was compounded because not only had he cheated, he had denied it for years and taken legal action against those who had uncovered the truth.

However, he is doing something that is undoubtedly in a good cause, helping Mr Thomas and the team to raise £1 million for Cure Leukaemia.

And for that he deserves some recognition.

Armstrong is not looking for sympathy here and nor does he deserve any.

It is also not the time for him to be expecting forgiveness from the people who believed in him and rallied behind him during his many years in the public eye.

The real inspiration on this gruelling and epic journey is Mr Thomas.

And in typically gracious style, Geoff praises Armstrong as having inspired him after his own diagnosis.

While Armstrong's own sporting prowess was based upon a massive deception, the strength inspired in others such as Mr Thomas was not.

That Armstrong is now drawing attention to an undoubtedly worthy cause and giving his time and effort in this way is laudable.

But this shamed star cannot be under any delusion that he is about to return to the hearts of those he disappointed.

Nor must he think for a second that it will undo the damage he has done not only to his own reputation but to that of other competitive cyclists, who may find themselves unfairly subjected to suspicion when they do well.

Armstrong's reputation is gone. He threw that away when he decided not only to take drugs, but to cover it up.

The benefit of riding with him is that he is still a draw for the media, and thus helps shine a light on the campaign to raise vital funds.

He may want to see this as his ride into the sunset and a way to restore himself in the eyes of those he let down.

The road to redemption is longer and even more arduous than the journey he is on now.

He is desperate his Livestrong Foundation and cancer fundraising legacy won't be tarnished forever.

Media interest in Armstrong's dramatic return has been huge and politicians and sports leaders have condemned his participation. The French sport minister said yesterday that Armstrong should 'take his holidays elsewhere'.

But speaking to the Express & Star, the American hit back: "The minister is a politician and I understand the game they play. I came into the country and had nothing but support.

"I stayed at the Novotel in Toulouse and asked the girl behind the desk where do I go to eat. She told me, I went there and it was selfie central so maybe the Minister of Sport should speak to them. So far it has been good," he said.

Geoff is determined Armstrong won't be the story of the day. I totally stand by my decision. Look at the interest. He is box office but this isn't about Lance Armstrong, it is about the charity.

"It's stage one complete, I would say."

Along the hilly southern route from Muret to Rodez yesterday, the sky was an pastel blue with temperatures reaching 42C. Spectators were far and few between with some camped out for the next day's Tour seemingly oblivious to the controversial figure who has been credited with tainting the sport and the race's reputation.

Armstrong said: "It's very hot, my feet are hot. It's a long time since I have ridden 200km. I'd rather be on the beach.

"The team are doing really well. It's cool being here. They are very sweet people. Very welcoming. I don't like the commotion it makes me uncomfortable. Some people like it but I see it and I'm like, 'oh sh**'.

"But it's good for Geoff and it provides that counter argument to me not being here.

"I think you guys (the press) being here shows it is the right decision.

"Groups have been coming and so far it's been great. They recognise me but understand what Geoff has here and that it is a group effort. Geoff and I share the same passion and the cause.

"My credentials in the field of cancer are still legitimate and I still do a lot of work on it. I don't think people have forgotten what I achieved there.

"It doesn't make the headline but it is still the first thing people speak to me about." Asked if he would be welcome back into cycling, he said: "I don't know. We are in an interesting place. The sport has its head in the sand. We need an adult conversation. I get what has happened to me but it isn't going to help the sport. It would be nice. But my guess is that they won't.

"I have talked to people but I don't want to talk about it. "

Geoff and his 10 amateur riders have raised more than £600,000 of their £1m target for Cure Leukaemia.

The charity's founder Professor Charlie Craddock saved Geoff's life. Now 10 years on, he hopes he and Lance Armstrong will save others. Today, they go again.

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