Lance Armstrong on Tour de France cycle route with former Wolves star Geoff Thomas: 'I'm back' says shamed cycling drugs cheat

The drug cheat completed a stage of the Tour de France route for Thomas' leukaemia charity, which is aiming to raise £1 million.

In the small village of Venerque, 15 miles south of Toulouse, Armstrong emerged from the team's coach surrounded by a scrum of the world's media.

"I am here to support Geoff and his work with Cure Leukaemia. It's a case that sometimes you need someone to welcome you back like Geoff Thomas," he said.

Asked what he thought of comments condemning his participation, he said: "Why shouldn't I be here? Seriously, someone tell me why I shouldn't be here.

"Just answer me why. Guess. It's a logical dialogue to have. First I need to know why I shouldn't be welcome."

This is the view of Express & Star reader Malcolm Hemsley and is typical of many of the comments that have been on our Facebook page.

Some are prepared to let Lance Armstrong move on from his past as a drug cheat and have argued that there is no reason to stop him raising cash for a good cause.

But others say there should be no way back into cycling for him.

Mr Hemsley added: "I don't condone rule-breaking and his ban is warranted.

"He is raising money to combat an insidious disease and needs applauding not denigrating."

Paul Williams added: "Drugs cheat? That bloke beat three types of cancer, at once. So what if he used drugs? Leave the bloke alone, man."

Davey Ireson was less forgiving, saying: "Respect for helping Geoff but he cheated his sport to earn millions and thinks this is a way back in for him! Maybe he should donate some of the money he earned cheating other riders behind him who have worked just as hard as him but without drugs.

Paul Williams responded again, saying: "Did any of those people set up the Live Strong Foundation, using their own money, which helps people with cancer ever day? If he got it by cheating, but used it for good, then I couldn't care less. Be a different story if he spent it on Lamborghinis and cocaine, but he didn't!"

Simon Herring added: "Have no issue with him riding to raise money. Do have issue with him cheating to beat other honest competitors. Those above saying he beat cancer so leave him alone for cheating.... erm, no. It's not an excuse to cheat your way to millions."

Mark Beckford Green added: "The thing is, if he is raising money let him do it."

When it was put to him it's because he is a cheat, possibly the world's worst, he hit back with: "If you applied that rule to everybody you wouldn't have hardly anyone left on the Tour, in the coaching teams, the press room, the cars. It's not a very well informed argument. If we are going to have that as the standard you have to apply it to everyone, not just Lance Armstrong.

"The sport has its head in the sand."

Media interest in the Texan's dramatic, and in some places unwelcome, return to France was huge with footage of the 44-year-old leading news bulletins and overshadowing the actual Tour.

Yesterday he rode 124 miles along a hilly stage from Muret to Rodez in the central southern part of the country. In some places he was greeted with kisses and banners of support as he joined the team as they head across France from the Pyrenees to the Alps.

Geoff, 50, and his riders are attempting to ride the entire 2,075 miles of this year's Tour to raise £1m for Cure Leukaemia. The former Wolves captain, who has so far raised £600,000, said: "Lance raises the profile for our cause that is all this is about and all it ever has been event.

"He still believes he has something to offer the cancer community and so do I. He has been a real morale booster for the team."

Today they ride 109 miles through thick woodland to Mende. Ten amateurs rode with the pair, paying £50,000 for the privilege as part of the fundraising drive.

The former England man is a leukaemia survivor and is celebrating 10 years in remission. He says Armstrong's own journey from cancer sufferer to the greatest cyclist of all time was the inspiration that got him through the disease. The former winner was stripped of his seven Tour victories in 2012.