Lance Armstrong on a ride with about 1,000 cyclists in Dublin in 2009 before the shit hit the fan. Now he's at it again and it looks like he's getting a big response (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Tour of Ireland)
It was before his world came tumbling down. And when Lance Armstrong took to Twitter - after riding the Tour of Ireland - in 2009 to invite cyclists for a group ride in Dublin, more than 1,000 of them turned up.
There's obviously been a lot of water under the bridge since then and the Armstrong legend has been well and truly shattered, with the Texan now a pariah. Or is he?
He did nothing to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of the Irish public recently when he pulled out of a conference he was due to appear at in Dublin with less than 24 hours notice.
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But he's in New Zealand right now and he's taken to Twitter the way he used to do and asked the cycling public to join him for a ride tomorrow from 6am in Auckland.
And while some Tweeters have responded negatively, they have very much been in the minority.
Armstrong is definitely feeling the love - as you can see from just a selection of the positive responses to his invitation.
Only about five per cent of the replies were negative so maybe the big thaw is on and more people than ever are willing to forgive and forget and actually join him on a ride.
Armstrong gets interesting response
Landed in #Auckland and headed out on the bike. Anyone up for a ride Tuesday morning? Stay tuned for details! pic.twitter.com/Vbbp0ciVBf
— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong Nice!
— Hayden Roulston (@HaydenRoulston) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong hey man, 6am from @Kiwivelo on wednesdays. Xmas ride this week, brews at the shop after
— James Oram (@OramNewZ) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong Come to Sydney - we'll go for a ride, then I'll take you for the best burger in Australia!
— __rogersherman__ (@rogersherman) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong come to Wellington or Masterton, nothing to do in Auckland. Great cycling circuits here
— Jorge Sandoval (@SandovalJorge) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong I'll be there. I heard on #theforwardpodcast you are traveling around a bit.
— Rob Dallimore (@ROB_DALLIMORE) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong weather looking good too! Enjoy your visit
— hardsell (@hardsell) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong be no one working in NZ Tuesday!
— Team MaccaX (@TeamMaccaX) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong hey i would be really keen, do you have a particular route you want to do?
— Lou (@lou_gordongreen) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong let's ride on BI! New bypass road down south is good!! Have fun in New Zealand!! ??
— Jenny Kalmbach (@JennyKalmbach) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong Heck yes for sure to ride with a legend on the bike
— David Earl (@2bfairearl) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong I wish could be there to share that ride along the best.
— Robin Grioni (@GrioniR) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong South Island on the cards this trip?
— Chris Lawrence (@chrislawrence01) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong you need to get on down to Queenstown.
— Maggie Drummond (@zinniedog) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong awesome you are riding strong. Keen to join a ride and say hi. Coffee is good here too :-)
— James Clement (@JimmyCnz) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong you heading over to Oz?.Happy for you to tag along kn a morning ride. Your shout for coffee!
— User name (@ChrisHitchen1) December 18, 2016
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@lancearmstrong Make sure you stay behind the blue lines...Aucklanders seem to think cyclists are targets. Enjoy NZ mate.?
— Kris (@krisssned) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong So great you are visiting NZ! I'd be there Tuesday, if I was home rather than in Blighty. ? Take care out there and enjoy! ?
— Helen Stoddard (@helsonwheels) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong how about coming down the island? Tokoroa would be keen for a ride. Have just got my boys off the Xbox and out on the bike!
— Darin Morgan (@ambrose001) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong I don't ride at all. But you are one of the few athletes I would love to meet for a coffee!
— Alex Stojkovic (@CoachStojkovic) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong Hmmmmmm... Working... I may just have to be "sick" on Tuesday...
— alistair harsant (@Ironman4Asthma) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong Welcome to NZ I hope you enjoyed your ride with Cameron Brown..keep being
— Christian Lambert (@Lambert01a) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong dream of my childhood might become real - cycling with Lance in Auckland - let me know where!!!! Viva la Lance
— DiveWithSly (@DiveWithSly) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong good on you Lance, hope my home town put on a beautiful day for you. It's a great ride down along the waterfront.
— kris anderson (@KrisWAnderson) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong Hi Lance are you coming to Melbourne? Would love to catch up if it's at all possible, cheers David Virtue
— DavidV (@v_virtue) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong What time and where?
Forget haters.— Timothy Desmond Mont (@MontTimothy) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong definitely in,get to ride with the legend himself!
— delano gallagher (@delanodlg) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong May the sun shine bright on you; have a great time here in NZ ☀️??
— Cassandra Booth (@CassBoooth) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong glad to have you in NZ bud
— George . E . Boy (@remuera1) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong Wish I was in Auckland - how about you do a cycle round the Wellington Waterfront!
— Angela Jelaca (@scootergirl_nz) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong sheesh @aucklandcouncil shut the roads it's going to be bigger than around the bays.
— Daniel Mitchell (@DanMitchNZ) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong love you ? you're awesome! You will always be my hero
— Venus Olivia (@soydleo) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong thanks for giving me a reason to get back on my bike after having 2 years off!
— Greg Potter (@GregPotter5) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong wish I could join. Enjoy the ride!
— Tyler (@NocturnalTG) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong wish i was there! Loved a tamaki drive ride. Enjoy nz
— Nick Eltringham (@nick_elt) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong you are the best champion...????
— Edwin Cruz Caballero (@ecruzcaballero) December 18, 2016
@lancearmstrong Dude i lost my pancreas to the big C, way over weight, way out of condition, C U there corner Tamaki and cliff road, Robert.
— robert (@rd1863) December 18, 2016
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