Some 4,300 cyclists joined Lance Armstrong in Austin, Texas to take part in a charity ride to support Cancer Research and the Livestrong organization. It was part of a weekend of events hosted by Livestrong, including a gala 15-year anniversary celebration, hosted by Armstrong.
The ride comes as Armstrong continues to be at the center of a doping scandal which has seen him lose sponsorships, medals and titles.
Sunday was one of the rare occasions that the former Tour de France champion was seen in public since the doping allegations emerged.
Moments before the cyclists were due to kick off their ride, which included a 100 mile cycle through Austin, Armstrong took to the stage to thank them for their support.
"It is truly and honor. We're all truly humbled. I speak on behalf of 90 people who work at Livestrong on a daily basis, millions of people in this country that are affected by the disease, 28 million people around the world. When we started this organization, and Kirk was still on our original board many, many years ago, if you would have told me that 15 years later that little organization, that little idea would have raised half a billion dollars, would have touched two and a half million lives around the world, I would have told you you were crazy. But those were all true. Those have all happened," he said, to cheers.
Speaking specifically about the scandal, he said, "We had a lot of lucky breaks along the way, but it's been a special ride. Obviously it's been an interesting, and as I said the other night, at times very difficult few weeks. People ask me a lot, 'How you doing?' and I tell them, I say, 'Well, I've been better, but I've also been worse."
His comments were met with loud applause from the cyclists.
The Armstrong doping scandal reaches a decisive day on Monday when cycling's governing body announces whether it has ratified the US Anti-Doping Agency's sanctions but whatever happens the affair is set to run and run.
Reuters