Lance Armstrong pulls out of controversial Tour of Flanders appearance just three days ahead of event
American pulls out of speaking engagement due to personal matters

After months of controversy surrounding his appearance at an event connected to the Tour of Flanders, Lance Armstrong has now pulled out of a planned speaking engagement due to "a very serious family and personal matter".
Armstrong had been scheduled to attend the Tour of Flanders Business Academy, a VIP event which sees participants pay €295 (£260) to ride the final 74km of the Tour of Flanders followed by a lunch and speech, on Friday, but will now be replaced by Belgium football manager Roberto Martinez.
"It is with great sadness and regret that, due to a very serious family and personal matter, I cannot attend this year's Tour of Flanders," Armstrong said in a press release from Tour of Flanders organiser Flanders Classics.
"Without going into too much detail, and out of respect for my family’s privacy, I must stay close to my home here in Texas to deal with the situation.
"I’m very happy that [Flanders Classics owner] Wouter Vandenhaute was able to find a great speaker for the Tour of Flanders Business Academy event in Roberto Martinez, the coach of the Belgian football team. I’m sure he has a very interesting story to tell and have been told he’s a great fan of cycling."
Watch: Cobbled Classics essential guide 2018
Armstrong is banned for life from taking part in professional cycling events, but this ban does not cover seperate events such as the Tour of Flanders Business Academy. However despite the event not being covered by Armstrong's ban, his attendance at an event linked to the race has been criticised by many in cycling.
In January UCI president David Lappartient said that it "would not be a good idea" for Armstrong to speak at the event and even threatening to boycott the race, with the American also reportedly planning to ride the Flanders sportive event on the Saturday before the professional race, and perhaps even travel in a VIP car on the day of the race itself.
However had he have attended then Armstrong would have been far from alone in being a former drug cheat working close to a cycling race, with Richard Virenque working on French television and attending the Tour de France as a special guest each year and Alexandre Vinokourov being at the head of the Astana team.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
-
'Shocked and saddened': Tour de France organiser sends condolences after Copenhagen shooting
Several people were killed in the Copenhagen mall shooting
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan • Published
-
Tour de France packs up for the long drive home
Race waves goodbye to Denmark and gets ready to move everything to Calais for race restart on Tuesday
By Simon Richardson • Published
-
F1 star Valtteri Bottas spotted out riding with Lance Armstrong
Alfa Romeo driver joined controversial American for Colorado spin on Sunday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I think doping might actually be more popular': Mixed reviews as Lance Armstrong gets into the NFT game
If there's one thing worth reading this weekend, it's the replies to Lance Armstrong's tweet about acquiring an NFT
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Tour of Flanders Espoirs cancelled indefinitely
The race's date, location and lack of young riders are all factors in the organiser's decision
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
'I was almost dead': Jan Ullrich speaks out on his recovery on Lance Armstrong's podcast
The former Tour de France winner spoke about how finding friends in Armstrong and others after re-adopting a healthy lifestyle
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
No fans at Tour of Flanders and other Classics in 2021, according to organisers
There will be no fans at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Ghent-Wevelgem, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, Scheldeprijs or Brabantse Pijl in 2021
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Seven things we learnt from the new Lance Armstrong documentary
The 48-year-old sheds new light on the biggest doping scandal in sporting history, and is as combative as ever
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Floyd Landis responds after Lance Armstrong calls him a ‘piece of s***’ in new documentary
Floyd Landis has responded after Lance Armstrong called him a “piece of s***” in a new documentary.
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
'I'm not going to lie to you now': New Lance Armstrong documentary to air
The documentary features new, extensive interviews with Armstrong as well as a number of his former team-mates, rivals and friends
By Jonny Long • Published