DES MOINES, Iowa – Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said Sunday he plans to get in on a well-known Iowa bike race, cycling this week with seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.
Edwards will join Armstrong and thousands of other cyclists in Hampton on Wednesday — the fourth day of the weeklong, 472-mile Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
The former North Carolina senator said that he and his wife, Elizabeth, who has breast cancer, have admired Armstrong for his work against the disease. Armstrong survived testicular cancer that spread to his lungs and brain.
"I am looking forward to joining with him and so many other RAGBRAI riders to call attention to this important cause," Edwards said.
Armstrong has become politically active as a cancer activist since retiring from professional cycling. He plans presidential candidate forums on cancer next month in Cedar Rapids.
"For me personally, it's just to make sure that whatever candidates we have now, and then ultimately the two who want to be president, discuss the No. 1 killer in this country, just like they would discuss War or Terror or taxes," Armstrong said in a video statement on his foundation Web site.
"I think whoever wants to be commander in chief ought to answer the cancer question," Armstrong said.
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