Lance Armstrong has been out of the news for about six months since his big doping confession to Oprah Winfrey. But now he is back in the news as he will race in the Des Moines Register newspapers Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.

Armstrong has been banned from competing in all cycling competitions for life due to his doping, and then going on to lie about it. But race director T.J. Juskiewicz said "We are open to anyone that wants to come ride RAGBRAI," reports Us Magazing USmagazine.

This will be Armstrong's fifth time riding in this event, but this one comes under different circumstances and he is cognizant that he will be heavily scrutinized.

Armstrong said of his choice to ride, “I’m well aware my presence is not an easy topic, and so I encourage people if they want to give a high five, great. If you want to shoot me the bird, that’s okay, too. I’m a big boy, and so I made the bed, I get to sleep in it,” reports the Inquisitr The Inquisitr.

Armstrong's end goal is to rid himself of his ban from competitive cycling, and while this is him just making an appearance in a race he used to ride in, it shows he is serious about coming back to cycling and competing.