VARESE, Italy, Sept 24, 2008 (AFP) – Former world cycling chief Hein
Verbruggen has dismissed as “ridiculous” a report suggesting he and Lance
Armstrong may join forces and buy the company which owns the Tour de France.

Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald suggested last week that a link-up
between seven-time yellow jersey champion Armstrong and former International
Cycling Union (UCI) chief Verbruggen “carried weight”.

But just as the American cycling icon who recovered from cancer a decade
ago was confirming his comeback at a press conference in New York, Verbruggen
was rubbishing the notion.

The Dutchman told Bicycle.net: “I heard about the rumors that said I wanted to be
president of the UCI again, or that I would try to buy the Tour de France.

“All of which, of course, are completely ridiculous.”

Verbruggen reacted positively to Armstrong’s return in a bid to win an
eighth Tour crown, while spreading the word worldwide about the threat of
cancer.

But he said he had not spoken to the 37-year-old Texan in two years, and
added that the return of Armstrong – who spent much of his illustrious career
fighting doping suspicions – would surely get a mixed reception.

“If he comes back I know him well enough to know it’s not just to make up
the numbers,” added Verbruggen, who launched the troubled Pro Tour cycling
series nearly four years ago before handing over the presidency to Irishman
Pat McQuaid in 2005.

“He has a lot of charisma and is popular in a lot of countries. There are
some who will welcome his comeback a lot more than others.”

Verbruggen, who held a top co-ordinator’s post within the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) for the Beijing Olympics, was speaking on the day he
officially resigned his UCI post of vice-president.

The Dutchman was obliged to hold such a post in order to hold his position
within the IOC, from which he also resigned recently.