Fallen cycling hero Lance Armstrong personally apologized Monday to staff members of the Livestrong cancer charity ahead of an interview with talk show diva Oprah Winfrey.

"Lance came to the Livestrong Foundation's headquarters today for a private conversation with our staff and offered a sincere and heartfelt apology for the stress they've endured because of him," Livestrong spokeswoman Rae Bazzarre told AFP.

She added that Armstrong -- a cancer survivor who founded the charity in 1997 -- urged Livestrong staffers "to keep up their great work fighting for people affected by cancer."

* Lance Armstrong admits doping

Cyclist Lance Armstrong has admitted to talk show host Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs in a lengthy interview to be aired later this week, USA Today reported.

The newspaper cited an unnamed person familiar with the interview ahead of its Thursday night air date.

Source: AFP