The head of world cycling’s governing body has called on Lance Armstrong to abandon “very disrespectful” plans to ride part of the Tour de France route for charity a day before the official race.

Armstrong has been persuaded by Geoff Thomas, the former Crystal Palace player who is aiming to raise £1m for Cure Leukaemia by cycling the entire Tour de France route before the official peloton, to join him for a couple of days.

But the UCI president, Brian Cookson, said the idea of Armstrong, banned for life and stripped of his seven Tour de France victories for serious doping violations, taking part in the charity ride was hugely disrespectful to the rest of the sport.

“I’m sure Geoff Thomas means well but frankly I think that’s completely inappropriate. I think it’s very disrespectful to the Tour de France,” said Cookson.

“I think it’s disrespectful to the current riders in the peloton, I think it’s disrespectful to the UCI and current anti-doping activities. I think Lance Armstrong would be well advised not to take part.”

Cookson admitted he had no authority to stop Armstrong from taking part in the high-profile charity ride. “Lance Armstrong can ride his bike around France as often as he likes, it’s got nothing to do with me or the UCI,” said Cookson.

Thomas told Cycling Weekly he could understand the furore over the plans but that critics were missing the bigger picture. “I think there’s a bigger story here; to raise awareness and as much money as we can for this fantastic charity,” said Thomas, who battled blood cancer himself 12 years ago.

“It’s my job to work out how to do that as best as we can. This has stirred up a lot of people’s feelings, yes, but it’s all from a good side from my perspective.”

Brian Cookson suggested Armstrong could find a better way of raising funds. Photograph: Steve Helber/AP

Cookson said he was sure the former footballer’s idea was well-intentioned but called on him and Armstrong to reconsider.

“The charity justification was used quite a lot throughout Lance Armstrong’s career and that got us into a mess that is well documented now. There are other ways people can do good works and raise money,” said Cookson, speaking at a Sports Industry Breakfast Club event sponsored by CWM FX.

“I think Geoff Thomas is very well motivated. I’m sure he thought he was doing something good. But in my view bringing Lance Armstrong to ride on some or all of the Tour de France route one day before the actual race – I can’t think of a better word than disrespectful.”

Cookson said he was willing to act as an intermediary to bring Armstrong and Usada together if required but that he could see little reason for getting involved. Cookson, who said he had never met or spoken to the Texan, said it was down to Usada if it wanted to reconsider the life ban handed down after a 2012 investigation found Armstrong at the centre of “the most professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”.

“Usada are in control of whether Lance Armstrong gets any reduction in his lifetime ban, not the UCI, and that’s how it should be,” he said.

“Lance Armstrong said he had been singled out and made an exceptional case. But he was the only rider who won the Tour de France seven times by cheating. So he is an exceptional case.”

Armstrong presented a BBC award to Thomas in 2005 after the former England midfielder first followed the Tour de France route with a charity ride.

Thomas said he had been inspired by Armstrong and went to visit him a month ago in a bid to inspire him to resume his fundraising efforts. “I wanted to see how he’d react to an offer to help in the fight against cancer again. What I saw was somebody who was frustrated he couldn’t do that type of work with LiveStrong any more,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to get him back into that realm, and hopefully in future help him make millions of pounds for charity again.”