July 30, 2007 (Vancouver, BC) – As Axel Merckx was taking solid stage second place on Stage 18 at the Tour de France, Phil Liggett announced live on air during the world-wide broadcast that he will join Lance Armstrong and Merckx at the BC Cancer Foundation Tour of Courage fundraising events September 21-23 in British Columbia, Canada. Proceeds from the events will be used for blood cancer research at the BC Cancer Agency.

Often referred to as the English-speaking “Voice of the Tour de France” sports journalist and commentator Liggett is a former amateur cyclist who received a professional contract in 1967 and who, instead of turning professional, saw a future in sports journalism.

Liggett has written for Cycling magazine, freelanced for The Guardian and The Observer. In 1997 he was appointed Cycle Sport magazine’s international editor. He has written several books on cycling. In 1973, aged 30, Liggett became the youngest ever Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) international commissaire. Since that early start he has reported on ten Olympics and 33 Tours.

On September 23, Armstrong, Merckx, Liggett and cycling celebrity friends Steve Bauer, Canadian cycling champion, Chris Carmichael, Lance’s personal coach, and Johann Bruyneel, sporting manager of the US Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team will lead off a community fundraising ride for recreational cyclists young and old in Greater Vancouver.

All six will also participate in a Challenge Ride for a small group of major donors on September 22 in the Okanagan, and appear at an intimate dialogue event entitled “˜Lessons in Leadership, Lessons in Courage’ on September 21 in Vancouver.

When advised of these international cycling celebrity additions to the BC Cancer Foundation Tour of Courage, Philip Meyer, General Manager of the Wedgewood Hotel, a major force behind the very dynamic Wedgewood Cycling Team and a key member of the organizing committee said, “Phil, Chris, Steve, Johann and Axel will be great additions to the Tour of Courage. Having worked with Axel Merckx on fundraising for the BC Cancer Foundation before, I know he is passionate and committed to the fight against cancer. Combine that with Phil Liggett’s stories, Steve Bauer’s Canadian insight into the world of pro cycling, Chris Carmichael’s training & technical skills, Lance Armstrong’s star power and Johann Bruyneel’s tactical cunning which has him on the verge of directing eight Tour de France winners in the last nine years and the BC Cancer Foundation Community Ride is a must do for any cycling fan!”

While the Challenge Ride on September 22 is SOLD OUT, tickets remain for the “˜Lessons in Leadership, Lessons in Courage’ corporate event on Friday, September 21, and everyone in the province is invited to join Armstrong, Merckx, Liggett and friends for the community ride, scheduled for Sunday, September 23, 2007.

For full details or to register visit the BC Cancer Foundation Tour of Courage web site at www.tourofcourage.ca or call 604.696.bike (2453).