The day when he made a bid for leader’s jersey, putting his tiring frame through agonies up Tourmalet, was one of the most gripping in the race’s history. The route was lined with teary-eyed support for the American. His influence was everywhere. On every millimetre of the course, messages had been stencilled on to the Tarmac from supporters of his LiveStrong charity, a body which has raised millions for cancer research.