You’ve probably heard by now that Floyd Landis has confessed.
Sadly, There isn’t a whole lot of data in the Landis emails. Floyd doesn’t really say anything that people haven’t been saying for years in late-night IM conversations and court depositions. I was hoping at least to get a photo of the vaunted refrigerated motorcycle panniers, but no such luck.
I think it’s great that Floyd has cleared his conscience, but the time for that was four years ago. Before the trial, the fund raising, the poorly-received book. Floyd spent over two million dollars unsuccessfully trying to undermine the scientific basis of the testing he now derides as a “charade”. Anyone else see a problem with that?
I’m not mad that Floyd has called these people out. Honestly, in all his accusations, the only surprising name for me is Leipheimer, who hangs tough in the Grand Tours, but tends to fade in the later stages—as if he’d been doing 200km a day for two weeks running. Hincapie, at 6′ 3″, 170, is a poor candidate for mountaintop stages. Zabriskie did have a bit of a purple patch a few years back, and as for Lance and Johan—well, that should be a surprise to no one.
No, my real beef with Floyd is that this is an essentially masturbatory effort on his part. People’s faith in Lance Armstrong borders on religious, and Floyd should know that anything short of hard evidence against his former teammate would be blown off as sour grapes.
Of course, the media will decide to pay attention, heaping more ignominy on the sport smack dab in the middle of the biggest American race—but hey, as long as your conscience feels better, right?
Even if every one of Floyd’s accusations is true, they’re all painfully easy to deny. Since there’s no incentive for athletes or officials to confess, anything that can be denied will be, and another round of denials only slims the chances that people who’ve cheated in the past will come clean.
Short of an amnesty—and good luck getting WADA to let go of their 8-year window of prosecution—nothing’s going to come of Floyd’s allegations beyond a few angry pixels. In fact, in many ways, Landis’ “confession” does more to hurt the cleanliness of cycling than it does to promote it.
It depends who leaked this no? Landis might have been dealing in confidence with those addressed in the emails. Or maybe he leaked this, who knows?
As you say, most of this can be denied but the detail, the suggestions and the names will make a lot of people uncomfortable today. But it only takes one weak link, a coach driver, “Duffy” or another rider to corroborate Landis and everything changes.
Because of its self-destructive nature, I think that Landis late confession will hurt the credibility of doper’s out there and certainly Lance’s. Landis has nothing to loose. This is another brick taken down from the wall of silence. From now on people will take denials — vehement or otherwise — with a grain of salt.
Ultimately it is a step in the right direction, the doping wound must be cleaned and disinfected — and yes in the short term it is a painful process — before we can as a sport move on.
On a more positive note, now we know for sure that doing shots of Jack Daniel’s does not help crush the opposition on a mountain stage of the Tour de France!
From now on people will take denials — vehement or otherwise — with a grain of salt.
Wait, prior to today you believed the denials?
No of course not. I actually don’t like the taste of Kool-aid: Never believed in Landis & I don’t believe Armstrong’s denials.
This has nothing to do with Floyd or doping, but I’m wondering if the most difficult part of winning the TdF is riding around after carrying that huge flag. It seems to require the illusive cyclist arm strength.
You’re right that there’s not a lot of news here besides the accumulation of more non-prosecutable, he-said-she-said evidence against Team We Might As Well Win. The one thing that really caught my eye was the claim that Armstrong and Bruyneel once paid the UCI to keep quiet about a positive test. I’m not sure if we could ever get confirmation on that. It appears to have at least raised WADA’s eyebrows: just what we need, more inter-institutional bickering!
On the plus side this does, as you say, put some perspective on Dave Z’s form fall-off since 2004/2005. I always wondered what happened there.
So, in accepting the Hincapie accusation, are you also declaring Pereiro a doper? After all, he was the one who towed George to the line at Pla D’adet and complained about the fact that he did no work, right?
I feel a new “Believe Floyd” T-shirt coming on. Or a coffee mug. The possibilities are endless, Cosmo. This man may be the ultimate poster child for the term “flip-flop.”
I never knew Floyd was a moron. ‘Andy Riis’ is perhaps the secret son of Bjarne and Frank’s lil’bro’ but San Mauritz is certainly not in Switzerland.
Somehow, “Mr. Landis’ ” story strikes me as way too weird, given some clues as above. And if it is genuine Floyd, it is a rather transparant move to confess but divert attention to a certain ‘Mr. Armstrong’ (of whom he is well aware of having massive media momentum). It smells, I cannot understand his sloppiness.
I bet Bahati will not sleep well tonight. This will be a huge hit to his fledgling program. What was he thinking by bringing Floyd onboard this season? Either he believed his innocence (doubtable), or Floyd confided in him. What makes it even worse for Bahati is the fact that their trajectory was way up before Floyd joined on, he did nothing to add to their positive image, and now the program will suffer the collective rath of powers MUCH stronger than them.
Cosmo, completely agreeing with your thoughts on the timing. Taking the whole stinking ship down with him. Odd that you’re surprised about “Bottle” though, around the reliable source that is The Internet there is a long list of allegations against him.
Also I think that Vaughters will be the barometer of truth in this mess. Blanket denials from Armstrong, The Hog and the UCI are to be expected, but not from Garmin. And I think JV’s statement today has already suggested which line he will take, it’s not difficult to read between the lines.
Equally of interest will be Teams Sky’s response to the allegations against Michael Barry, as they have stated they will not employ anyone with any links to doping.
cosmo,
I think you and many others are swallowing the ‘poor floyd’s gone off the deep end now…..’ responses. All personal attack and future-talk and no specific denial.
The sport was so f*ed up at that time not one of those people can say ‘nope, didn’t happen.’ moreover, the way the uci responded is a clear indicator that there are many bad things hidden at their office.
Team pharmstrong
This has me in stitches ,Lance isn’t looking to good either. The sales line (from Lance inc.) that these are the deluded rants of a junkie ring reasonably true, but who is the real dope trying to dupe?
HOW can a worm write a book or have it written for him and then after pocketing “Donors money” as well as “Royalties” stand up in the full light of day and shout out
“FOOLS!! TOOK YOU ALL FOR IDIOTS!! NOW HERE IS THE REAL STORY THIS TIME!” PAY ATTENTION THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE!”
ARE any of you listening to this “would be “contrite” if he could be”??
Please folks, there are “bad Apples in any barrel “, but the worm has tried to implicate everyone and says he has no evidence to support his “flights of fancy”!
Motorcycles with fridges are used by tourists, seen them in camping sites, but Pullman Coaches on the side of the road with sponsors as well as racers on board doing WHAT? Are we on Planet flandis, or on planet earth?
Eurosport has an entertaining program “planet armstrong” which i enjoy but i doubt anyone in their “right mind” will broadcast a program with the worm as it’s star!
When the book is remaindered someone send me a copy to keep in the “dunny” as i can put it to good use there, as i an an environmentalist in reusing paper!
Those visiting my blog please use “follow” and leave “comments” as the sponsors need to justify their investment in helping “Para Sport”!
Those in the Media use your money supporting “Para Sport” instead of throwing it to low life to support their habit of lying to all
skippy,
I don’t think you comprehend the Frequency and intensity of doping in cycling, especially in that era. It’s very well documented by riders as cosmo points out, but never enough to prosecute.
These allegations also finally implicate the UCI.
Levi is no angel- he was popped once in his career early on for doping.
Honestly this all sounds like bitter grapes. I’ve read the ESPN.com interview and it came off as a man who is trying to get back at the Tour of California for excluding his team. If he was so eager to clear his conscience why do it in the middle of a race, why not before, why make accusations of a cover up. The story of the notebooks and then when cross referenced for accuracy, the story falls apart like races he says he helped Lance prepare to dope for, and yet Lance was not in them like the 2002 Tour of Sussie. In that same interview Floyd admitted to doping and yet continued to claim that the test that led to him being stripped of the 2006 Tour de France was wrong as he wasn’t taking synthetic testosterone, but was taking HGH during that time frame. Floyd’s current tactics are classic maniuplation, you admit to what you did and more, then redirect by claiming that your target did all that and more. With this new admission I’d like to see Floyd investigated and charged with fraud for his taking of fan’s money who supported him and believed him when he claimed he was clean. I still would like to see Floyd’s claims investigated to see if there is truth to them after all a liar can tell the truth from time to time, but innocent until proven guilty should still be the standard we should follow here.
I was a guest in the hotel in San Remo the day it got busted in 2002, i left my helmet,flag & glasses on the rest rooms counter whilst in the stall!
All Gone when i came out ,so was only one riding the Giro route the next day despite lack of equipment. Half way up the “Cima Coppi of that giro” I heard why the day’s race was cancelled from Francesco Moser.
Being around the scene riding the routes as i do i see more than most journos and i don’t have to manufacture evidence(fill/sort thru trash bins) or pay team girls(Emma?) to get this info.
Suspicion of Marco at Madona1999 & Miller at Vuelta Cordoba does not as pointed out make a case or determine that most Pros are guilty of usuage.
Even Frei & his litre of water error does not implicate others. Simoni’s doctors/dentist visit and box of chocs from Moser’s wife and riding with Kohl & Schumacker after the etappe on the TDS doesn’t count.
Yes i am aware and i look carefully at all the racers i meet and have been known to predict the winner of more etappes than i can recall, sheer luck mostly i think!
Pim: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Moritz
so much for the moron, get your facts straight first, google helps 😉
But back to topic.
Cosmo, you are spot on with the at least four years to late confession and with its probable lack of influence.
I think the way and the timing of this confession shows again what kind of foul character he has again, but I can totally understand hid anger and frustration.
Because like all good soldiers he hold his ground, kept quiet, just like Basso and Vino. Yes, they took their ban and never admitted doping as far as I recall. Basso said he informed himself and was planning to but has never done it and Vino talks about mistakes and dark years of his career but he could easily mean with mistake getting busted or pissing off the wrong folks and not doping and with dark years he is most like referring to his ban in my opinion but never admitted doping as far as I know. But unlike those two Landis never really got a chance to come back after his ban.
Nonetheless despite this whole action being some kind of revenge attempt, it is most likely all true. I just hope despite his credibility being in below 0 on a scale from 1 to 100(sometimes I get the impression they played him well) this case will be thoroughly looked through and hopefully free us from the corrupt bastard MacQuaid, maybe close done a doping circle. Even if that wouldn’t change to much, one less is always a good thing.