Sotheby's

The Damien Hirst-designed ‘Butterfly Bike’ ridden by Lance Armstrong during this year’s Tour de France was the star lot at Sotheby’s in New York last night, the hammer falling at half a million dollars.

As well as the Hirst bike, which Armstrong rode on the Champs Elysées during the Tour’s final stage, six others used by Armstrong during his comeback season were also auctioned, raising $1.3 million for the Texan’s Livestrong charity.

Cycling fans with deep pockets will be keeping a close eye on proceedings at Sotheby’s in New York on 1 November when seven Trek bikes used by Lance Armstrong’s bikes during his comeback season this year, including six customised by some of the world’s leading artists, go under the hammer.

And the seventh? Well, you may just have heard of this one… it’s the Time Trial bike that was stolen and subsequently recovered in the Texan’s first race this year, the Tour of California.