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Disputed Winner: Floyd Landis
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Published: September 27, 2006
The intense, fiery and fearless eyes of Floyd Landis embody his personality on the bike. The cyclist’s eyes scream for seemingly impossible challenges, like downing nine cappuccinos in one sitting before training or riding in the world’s biggest cycling journey with a degenerative hip. In his vision, no climb is too high.
No attack is too far. No pain is too debilitating.
Raised in a Mennonite community in Pennsylvania, Landis literally climbed and suffered his way to becoming one of the best international cyclists. He arguably is America’s most talented and toughest cyclist since seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.
Landis grew up in a small town where values and vocational expectations resembled early colonial settlements. He was not allowed to watch television or movies. Dancing was prohibited by his religion. Most importantly, his individual accomplishments were not supposed to be highlighted. For this reason, his parents initially considered a career in cycling to be a transgression. Landis rebelliously disagreed.
Landis began his biking career as a mountain biker. Competing in this rugged sport required extreme upper-body strength. This physical feature generally prevents road cyclists from successfully scaling challenging road climbs. By 1999, however, Landis left the mountain biking career and pursued professional road cycling.
Armstrong’s United States Postal team signed Landis in 2002. During his tenure as Armstrong’s domestique (basically a body guard on a Trek), Armstrong and Landis became close, eventually developing a brotherly relationship. Armstrong taught Landis about professional cycling, while younger brother Landis teased and performed immature acts, such as downing an excessive amount of caffeine during the training season simply for the frat-like novelty of it.
After his stint with the prolifically-talented U.S. Postal team, Landis joined the Swiss-based Phonak squad in 2005. During a race in the spring, a rift between Armstrong and Landis became publicized when Landis errantly showed off during a stage. Armstrong, being the ruthless, more experienced competitor he is, won the stage and pointed to the clock, signaling Landis’ inability to keep up. (Interesting side note: Landis reportedly has a higher VO2 max than Armstrong, a key in gauging the potential of an athlete in endurance sports).
Months later, the two American heavyweights squared off on cycling’s biggest stage- Le Tour de France. Following the surprising suspension of Tyler Hamilton, the rebellious Mennonite unexpectedly found himself wearing the team leader’s jersey for the Tour de France. Though Landis finished in ninth place, the Phonak rider reportedly completed the last week of the French suffer-fest with the flu. Landis’ legend of toughness began taking shape.
Since his top-ten finish in the 2005 Tour, Landis’ religious roots shone brightly through his nearly pious and diligent devotion to training solely for the Tour de France in 2006, using the precursor races as buildups for cycling’s Super Bowl.
His training cashed in; Landis devoured competition in some of the biggest races of the year, receiving first place recognitions in the Tour of Georgia, Paris-Nice and the Tour of California.
The 2006 Tour de France lost several favorites due to discovered connections with a doctor prescribing illegal substances. With several riders out and the race’s future looking cloudy, Landis emerged as the favorite in the early stages. Despite riding conservatively, Landis had the yellow jersey and the road to Paris looked promising. In Stage 16, however, Landis lost his lead and dropped eight minutes behind.
Landis attacked the following day on the first of multiple climbs, boldly showing his toughness and desire for victory. In what many have called one of the greatest stages ever, Landis famously gained back over seven minutes and catapulted himself into contention once again. After capturing a convincing win in the longer-time trial, Landis assured himself the 2006 Tour de France yellow jersey. He was the third American ever to wear yellow on the final day.
Unfortunately, the 2006 Tour came full circle days after crowning the unlikely champion. Reports surfaced claiming Landis tested positive after Stage 17 for having an exceptionally high ratio testosterone-epitosterone. The champion denied ever using any sort of performance-enhancing drug, citing the high ratio could be due to cortisone he was taking for his hip ailment, because of the alcohol he consumed the evening prior to his legendary comeback or because this high level is natural.
As of July 2006, Landis still held the crown. If the pending “B” test confirms the initial “A” test’s results, Landis likely will be stripped of his jersey and historical records, and be suspended.
While Landis found himself in an unwanted limelight pending accusations of cheating and disgracing the sport, Armstrong – who had been falsely accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs in the past – publicly supported his former teammate and upheld Landis’ admirable character.
Landis has pushed the limits to compete at great levels despite his family’s severe austerity, the incomparable suffering during miles of uphill training rides and the typical unfortunate setbacks. Bypassing conventions and boundaries with his intense focus and urgent desire to win, Landis has climbed his way to the peaks of international cycling, and his eyes still burn for more.
Raised in a Mennonite community in Pennsylvania, Landis literally climbed and suffered his way to becoming one of the best international cyclists. He arguably is America’s most talented and toughest cyclist since seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.
Landis grew up in a small town where values and vocational expectations resembled early colonial settlements. He was not allowed to watch television or movies. Dancing was prohibited by his religion. Most importantly, his individual accomplishments were not supposed to be highlighted. For this reason, his parents initially considered a career in cycling to be a transgression. Landis rebelliously disagreed.
Landis began his biking career as a mountain biker. Competing in this rugged sport required extreme upper-body strength. This physical feature generally prevents road cyclists from successfully scaling challenging road climbs. By 1999, however, Landis left the mountain biking career and pursued professional road cycling.
Armstrong’s United States Postal team signed Landis in 2002. During his tenure as Armstrong’s domestique (basically a body guard on a Trek), Armstrong and Landis became close, eventually developing a brotherly relationship. Armstrong taught Landis about professional cycling, while younger brother Landis teased and performed immature acts, such as downing an excessive amount of caffeine during the training season simply for the frat-like novelty of it.
After his stint with the prolifically-talented U.S. Postal team, Landis joined the Swiss-based Phonak squad in 2005. During a race in the spring, a rift between Armstrong and Landis became publicized when Landis errantly showed off during a stage. Armstrong, being the ruthless, more experienced competitor he is, won the stage and pointed to the clock, signaling Landis’ inability to keep up. (Interesting side note: Landis reportedly has a higher VO2 max than Armstrong, a key in gauging the potential of an athlete in endurance sports).
Months later, the two American heavyweights squared off on cycling’s biggest stage- Le Tour de France. Following the surprising suspension of Tyler Hamilton, the rebellious Mennonite unexpectedly found himself wearing the team leader’s jersey for the Tour de France. Though Landis finished in ninth place, the Phonak rider reportedly completed the last week of the French suffer-fest with the flu. Landis’ legend of toughness began taking shape.
Since his top-ten finish in the 2005 Tour, Landis’ religious roots shone brightly through his nearly pious and diligent devotion to training solely for the Tour de France in 2006, using the precursor races as buildups for cycling’s Super Bowl.
His training cashed in; Landis devoured competition in some of the biggest races of the year, receiving first place recognitions in the Tour of Georgia, Paris-Nice and the Tour of California.
The 2006 Tour de France lost several favorites due to discovered connections with a doctor prescribing illegal substances. With several riders out and the race’s future looking cloudy, Landis emerged as the favorite in the early stages. Despite riding conservatively, Landis had the yellow jersey and the road to Paris looked promising. In Stage 16, however, Landis lost his lead and dropped eight minutes behind.
Landis attacked the following day on the first of multiple climbs, boldly showing his toughness and desire for victory. In what many have called one of the greatest stages ever, Landis famously gained back over seven minutes and catapulted himself into contention once again. After capturing a convincing win in the longer-time trial, Landis assured himself the 2006 Tour de France yellow jersey. He was the third American ever to wear yellow on the final day.
Unfortunately, the 2006 Tour came full circle days after crowning the unlikely champion. Reports surfaced claiming Landis tested positive after Stage 17 for having an exceptionally high ratio testosterone-epitosterone. The champion denied ever using any sort of performance-enhancing drug, citing the high ratio could be due to cortisone he was taking for his hip ailment, because of the alcohol he consumed the evening prior to his legendary comeback or because this high level is natural.
As of July 2006, Landis still held the crown. If the pending “B” test confirms the initial “A” test’s results, Landis likely will be stripped of his jersey and historical records, and be suspended.
While Landis found himself in an unwanted limelight pending accusations of cheating and disgracing the sport, Armstrong – who had been falsely accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs in the past – publicly supported his former teammate and upheld Landis’ admirable character.
Landis has pushed the limits to compete at great levels despite his family’s severe austerity, the incomparable suffering during miles of uphill training rides and the typical unfortunate setbacks. Bypassing conventions and boundaries with his intense focus and urgent desire to win, Landis has climbed his way to the peaks of international cycling, and his eyes still burn for more.
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