Floyd Landis and his OUCH team have agreed to mutually part ways as the former stage race front runner plans to take on, according to an official press release, "the longer, tougher stage races offered in Europe and Internationally that better suit his strengths." Rumor has it over the past few months that Landis is headed to Rock Racing.
Floyd Landis is a solid domestic pro on the back stretch of his career. That he is planning on taking on longer, International stage races next year is surprising to say the least. Landis was an also-ran in many of the races he competed in this year, and he was unable to notch even one win all year racing only on the domestic US circuit. It is unlikely that he'll succeed on the International level no matter who he rides for in 2010.
Moving to Rock Racing however seems to make perfect sense for Landis. He has yet to admit that he doped in 2007, and he'll fit right in with the stable of unapologetic outlaws that Rock Racing has assembled over the past few years. Whether he'll be able to replicate the results of such riders as Paco Mancebo and Oscar Sevilla however is another matter entirely.
Floyd Landis has done well just to return from his hip replacement procedure. He is a solid all-around support rider capable of helping elite stage racers in domestic races, but clearly he'll have a tough time merely keeping up in International races. Perhaps another off season of training will see Landis ready to take on the world in 2010, but it's not likely. Instead he'll be Internationally what he was domestically in 2009: a controversial rider who used to be one of the best riders in the world.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Floyd Landis Leaves OUCH, Rock Racing Next?
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6 comments:
I'm surpised you describe Landis as a 'solid domestic pro'. Really he should have been placed in your poll from a couple of posts back. I don't see any difference between Landis and Vinokourov. Landis should be classed, like Vino, as a defiant cheat. After all Landis served a sentence for doping. The sentence was never overturned and he never admitted it.
In my humble opinion I think there needs to be a little more consistancy from you on this point.
@Jason
The reason Landis wasn't included in the poll is because he is a 2nd tier rider. I don't consider him part of the same group as Vino et all. I stand by my comment that he is a solid domestic pro. He rode well in support of several of his teammates this past season. That doesn't mean I am saying he is not guilty of doping. I agree with you that he has been as subversive as Vino regarding his doping positive.
How many professional cyclists have actually confessed their guilt?
Even "holier than thou" David Miller didn't confess until after he was jailed.
Instead, we hear excuse after excuse. Even the ones who supposedly "confess" are only admitting they were caught. They're not saying they are sorry. That's a confession.
its for sure sure landis will never win another race again. no tour no giro no stage nowhere. period.
when you allow 2 years to cleanse your body of all that doping, theres no perfomance enhancement left in you. its all gone. he really is just a shame and an embarrassement where ever he goes.
Does Floyd's riding style seem considerably more upright than it did before? If so, is this due to his hip surgery?
I hope that Floyd will ride very well again. That would be both entertaining and instructive. I wish him well, wherever he goes.
I still think Floyd is innocent. Anyone that knows, know that what he was accused of would not of even benifitted from it for weeks. He was also tested two days prior with no results.
Look at the footage, look at that sack, thats were the testosterone came from. The rest is just bad French follow through.
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