Lance Armstrong

Disgraced American cyclist Lance Armstrong has declined an invitation to the Belgian Tour des Flandres race on Sunday because of family reasons. Armstrong had been invited by the organisers in one of the first signs of forgiveness within the cycling world over his doping past. "I was very much looking forward to being in Belgium for this year's Tour of Flanders," said Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France wins and banned for life after a doping admission in January 2013.