Tour de France receives a warning about Johan Bruyneel, Armstrong's previous manager, being unauthorized to receive accreditation from UCI.
Johan Bruyneel's Lifetime Ban from Cycling Events Extends to Tour de France
Johan Bruyneel, the former manager of Lance Armstrong, is currently serving a lifetime ban from any activity related to cycling, including attending accredited areas of the Tour de France. This ban, imposed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in 2018, prohibits him from participating in any role or capacity, or from accessing areas that are closed to the public and require official accreditation [1][2][3].
Recently, Bruyneel was a guest on Vive le Velo, a cycling program broadcast by the Flemish-language Belgian public television channel VRT1, during stage 12 of the Tour de France. Despite this, the UCI has emphasized that his ban extends beyond team or race roles and includes all accredited areas, such as the start village and team zones [1][2][3].
The UCI has stated that they are closely following the matter involving Bruyneel and will take all appropriate measures. They have contacted the race organizer, Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), to clarify whether Bruyneel was granted an official accreditation for the Tour de France [1][2][3]. It is important to note that the accreditation process for the Tour de France is the responsibility of ASO, not the UCI.
Bruyneel's ban stems from doping violations during his tenure managing the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team and the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. These violations are closely linked to the infamous Lance Armstrong doping scandal, which led to Armstrong's own lifetime ban and the stripping of his Tour de France titles. Bruyneel's initial ban was for 10 years, but it was increased to life by the CAS while considering his appeal [1][2][3][4][5].
Bruyneel was aware that questions about his past would arise and was prepared to answer them. He was present at the Tour de France's start village on July 17, 2025, which was against the rules [1][2][3]. Despite this, Leendert Derck, the editor-in-chief of the Vive le Velo program, stated that Bruyneel was invited after careful consideration, citing VRT rules that allow a suspended person to be invited, but this must be made clear [1].
In conclusion, Johan Bruyneel is prohibited from accredited areas of the Tour de France due to his lifetime ban for doping-related violations. Although he can attend as a regular spectator, he may not receive accreditation or access restricted zones that require official accreditation. The UCI is investigating how Bruyneel obtained accreditation and has contacted the race organizer to prevent further violations [1][2][3][4][5].
[1] UCI statement on Bruyneel's ban [2] VRT statement on Bruyneel's appearance on Vive le Velo [3] CAS decision on Bruyneel's ban [4] AAA decision on Bruyneel's ban [5] ESPN article on Bruyneel's ban
Despite serving a lifetime ban from cycling events, Johan Bruyneel was recently a guest on a cycling program, Vive le Velo. However, his ban extends beyond just participating in the sport, as he is prohibited from accessing any accredited areas of the Tour de France, including licensed zones like the start village and team zones.
