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Armstrong says sorry to Livestrong staff

ESPN staff
January 14, 2013
Lance Armstrong set up his Livestrong cancer foundation in 1997 © Getty Images
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Ahead of his highly-anticipated television interview with Oprah Winfrey, Lance Armstrong has apologised to staff at his Livestrong cancer foundation.

Armstrong met with staff ahead of the interview with the chatshow host in Austin, Texas, which will be recorded on Monday night but not aired until Thursday.

According to a report by the Associated Press, Armstrong choked up as he apologised for letting staff down and putting the Livestrong brand at risk, but did not make any direct reference to the doping which saw him stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

"He had a private conversation with the staff, who have done the important work of the foundation for many years," foundation spokeswoman Katherine McLane told Reuters.

Armstrong was the subject of a scathing attack on Monday as former Olympic road race champion Nicole Cooke fired a parting shot at the disgraced cyclist as she announced her retirement from the sport.

"I am so very fortunate to have been able to have won clean. I have been robbed by drug cheats, but I am fortunate, I am here before you with more in my basket than the 12-year-old dreamed of," Cooke said.

"When Lance "cries" on Oprah later this week and she passes him the tissue, spare a thought for all those genuine people who walked away with no rewards - just shattered dreams. Each one of them is worth a thousand Lances."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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