article_snippet: Former winner Stephen Roche Former winner Stephen Roche has offered Former winner Stephen Roche support to former footballer Geoff Thomas, arguing that cycling should not object to Lance Armstrong joining the former England footballer in Tour de France this summer to raise money for the fight against cancer.
article_snippet: Roche, the 1987 Tour winner whose own son suffered with leukaemia, believes
article_snippet: former footballer Geoff Thomas and Lance Armstrong are united by both being cancer survivors but some senior figures in cycling – UCI president Brian Cookson and Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford – have objected to the controversial American returning to the French roads.
article_snippet: Former Tour de France champion Stephen Roche, pictured with former footballer and charity organiser Geoff Thomas, supports Lance Armstrong's return to raise money and awareness of the disease .
article_snippet: Roche, who in 1987 became the second of only two cyclists to win the Triple Crown of the Tour, the Giro D’Italia and the world road race title, said: ‘I believe in what he’s (Thomas) doing,’ said Roche.
article_snippet: It was Roche’s son, Florian, who suffered with leukaemia and the Irishman, speaking to the Newstalk Breakfast radio show earlier, said: 'I can speak from my heart because my son had leukaemia and my son's on the straight now, thank God,’ my son said.
highlights_snippet: Former winner Stephen Roche has backed return of cyclist disgraced by doping scandal .
  