Armstrong’s team has to change unofficial jerseys honoring cancer fight before starting stage

RadioShack’s improper jersey stalls start to stage

PARIS — Lance Armstrong and his RadioShack team have been forced to change unofficial jerseys honoring cancer patients before starting the final stage of the Tour de France.

The start of Sunday’s stage was held up while Armstrong and his teammates took off the black jerseys with the number “28″ on the back. The figure was selected to honor the 28 million people fighting cancer, the focus of the Texan’s Livestrong Foundation.

TV images showed the RadioShack riders on the side of the road taking off the black jerseys and putting their regular red ones on and pinning their numbers to the backs.

The rest of the pack pedaled slowly as race officials delayed the start.

The 63.6-mile course from Longjumeau to Paris is expected to be largely ceremonial — with Alberto Contador set to win his third Tour.