On 22 October 2012, Lance Armstrong was formally stripped of the seven Tour de France titles he won while using performance enhancing drugs from 1999 to 2005 and subsequently banned for life from the sport. But that ban only applies to cycling events governed by national and international cycling organizations that are associated with the International Olympic Committee, not amateur gran fondos hosted by independent organizers.

So, for the 10th anniversary of his unceremonious dethroning as the all-time Tour de France champion, the 51 year-old Armstrong opted to line up and race at Gran Fondo Adolfo Lagos in Mexico on 16 October alongside 850 amateur riders.

The former UCI World Road Champion (he was not stripped of his 1993 title) had a fine outing, finishing in second place on the 130 kilometers long gran fondo course in the Men’s 51-60 year-old category with a time of 3:43:41, 3:35 behind Ruben Martinez Sanchez who won the category. Overall Armstrong finished in 42nd place.

Edgar David Cadena Martinez, 22, was the overall Gran Fondo Adolfo Lagos champion with a time of 3:30:07. Miguel Angel Diaz Herrera was next in 3:30:20 and Gerardo Alberto Arellano Martinez took the final podium spot in 3:32:12.

30 year-old Marcela Elizabeth Prieto Castaneda was the first women, winning in 3:36:55 and finishing 23rd overall.

Complete Gran Fondo Adolfo Lagos results HERE.

Photos/Media: @LaModernaMX