"A private family matter has prevented me from being there with you all to enjoy what will no doubt be an exciting day of racing. "I'll be following all the action from Texas, and there in spirit as a longtime fan of this historic, always action-packed race. I'd like to convey my thanks to Wouter Vandenhaute for inviting me," the Texan said on social media on Tuesday.

Vandenhaute's invitation to Armstrong, who delivered an enthralling liveblog of last year's Tour de France, led International Cycling Union president David Lappartient to write a letter of complaint to the Belgian race organiser. "This is not the image we want to be sending out," Lappartient said last week, adding he would boycott the event should Armstrong there. The Tour of Flanders is a huge event in Belgium itself, and one of the best-known one-day classics in the world, with its long stretches of cobblestones and a dozen steep hills.

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