Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Thousands of cyclists joined seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong on a Twitter ride through the streets of Brisbane, Queensland on Monday, raising more than AU$125,000 (US$124,000) for the victims of the recent floods that ravaged the Australian state, killing at least 20 people.
Queensland’s top lawmaker Anna Bligh — dressed in figure-hugging pink Lycra — also got on her bike for the 15-mile (25km) fundraising ride, while former prime minister Kevin Rudd waved the cyclists off.
Bligh told the excited crowds she was proud to see so many people taking part in Queensland Ride Relief.
“For those people who had the stuffing knocked out of them with these floods, Lance Armstrong is an inspiration,” Bligh said. “He has recovered from cancer and won the Tour de France. What a great symbol he is for achieving and recovering against the odds.”
Armstrong spent time signing crowd banners and talking to flood victims before the event kicked off about 10:30am local time.
“It was important for myself to do whatever I could,” he said.
The American cycling great came to Brisbane straight from riding in the Tour Down Under in Adelaide, South Australia, on Sunday — his final international race.
Unfortunately, the keen Twitter user forgot to check how to spell the flood-hit city’s name before sharing his excitement earlier Monday, the Australian Associated Press reported.
“Brisbaine, here we come,” the American wrote on his Twitter account, but soon realized his mistake.
“Oops, I spelled ‘Brisvegas’ wrong,” he later tweeted. “Not enough sleep last night.”
