In his new book, Le Sale Tour, journalist Pierre Ballester tells a fascinating story about a meeting between Lance Armstrong and the directors of the Tour de France at a hotel near Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport in late November 2008. Ten weeks had passed since the American had announced his comeback, and no agreement had been reached on his participation in the race.

Jean-Etienne Amaury, the CEO of Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO, the Tour owner) and Christian Prudhomme, the race director, were uneasy; German TV channels ZDF and ARD were not amused by Armstrong’s return and had threatened to withdraw. Four of the French team managers were also opposed, and some fans hadn’t forgotten the front page of L’Equipe in August 2005 with its verdict on the American’s reign: “The Armstrong Lie”.

Mindful of the tensions, the two ASO men tried to dissuade Armstrong at first, suggesting it might be easier to wait another year and return in 2010. Then a waiter interrupted and requested the American’s autograph; he was followed by a porter; then a woman asked if he would mind posing for a photo. Suddenly the euro dropped and Lance was handed a first-class ticket to Monaco. Welcome to the 96th Tour de France: it’s not about the bike.

Monday: Nikemares

I had a dream last night; I get them often in the weeks before the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong was shooting a new commercial for Nike.

Scene 1: A black-and-white image of a woman on a surgical trolley about to have a CAT scan. Cut to . . .

Scene 2: A flickering colour image of Armstrong flying down some country lane on his bike. Cut to . . .

Scene 3: A sick man breathing through an oxygen mask in hospital. Cut to . . .

Scene 4: Lance back on his bike and then a voiceover: “The critics say I’m arrogant.” Cut to . . .

Scene 5: An extremely ill man trying to pull himself up in a hospital bed. Cut to . . .

Scene 6: Lance continues the monologue: “A doper.” Cut to . . .

Scene 7: A nurse is helping an ailing patient to walk with the aid of a Zimmer frame. Cut to . . .