Cycling

Greg LeMond urges Landis to speak truth about doping charges

July 29, 2006

Floyd Landis news conference

PARIS (AP) -- Three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond says the doping charges against fellow American Floyd Landis could be "what cycling has needed for many years" in order to discourage cheating.

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"If he is confirmed positive, I hope he has the courage to tell the truth," LeMond said in an interview with French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche released on Saturday. "He alone can change the face of the sport today. His example could be a symbol of change."

In a veiled reference to seven-time winner Lance Armstrong, long dogged by doping allegations, LeMond added: "I hope that (Landis) won't do what another American did: Deny, deny, deny."

LeMond, who won cycling's premier event in 1986, '89 and '90, urged a mass crackdown on doping, involving all cycling regulatory bodies, governments and health ministries. He suggested an amnesty for riders who speak out about doping, and punishing entire teams if a single rider was found to have used banned substances.

"Testing, we will never do enough of it," he said, urging the International Cycling Union -- which he has criticized as corrupt -- to take a more aggressive stance on doping.

Landis' victory ride into Paris last Sunday after a stunning comeback renewed enthusiasm for the sport -- but just days later, his title was in doubt after a French lab reported a testosterone imbalance in one of his urine tests. Landis has said his body's natural metabolism was to blame and demanded backup tests.

The news rocked the cycling world, already under a cloud following a massive doping investigation in Spain which forced several of the world's leading cyclists off the Tour.

"I know Floyd, he's a good guy, he comes from a good family. If all this is proven, it will be a part of the tragedy that crosses this sport: Even good people are obliged to deceive," LeMond told Le Journal du Dimanche.

"It is cycling as a professional sport that represents the problem. It can transform someone into a liar."

2006-07-30 09:49:55 · 11 answers · asked by RuffRuff 3

I have seen a megane whilst out biking recently that had a bike rack on the back, without a tow bar however can not seem to find one anywhere that can work with the strange shape on the rear of the car. Roof mounted is not an option as the car has a sun roof

2006-07-29 23:36:15 · 5 answers · asked by pdalowsky 1

Assume both contestants are not using steroids.

2006-07-29 15:37:43 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous

I'm looking for a roadbike and definitely want something that is going to be easy on my back... looking to do alot of long road bikes... comfort and some speed are important to me, but I don't need the lightest bike in the world.... suggestions?

2006-07-29 13:54:03 · 4 answers · asked by Jasper M 2

i would like to buy retro bikes to restore and them sell on to people who appreciate them and look after them

2006-07-29 13:03:21 · 4 answers · asked by vestanpance 1

This Fall I will be biking to school/work. The trip is about five miles. I would love some tips on making the trek more enjoyable. I will be carrying books with me at all times and would love some tips on how to prevent me from arriving at school soaked in sweat. Thanks!

2006-07-29 10:25:29 · 4 answers · asked by postmodernclown 2

2006-07-29 10:18:25 · 3 answers · asked by miasophia 3

What is there to do there?

2006-07-29 08:18:27 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

The Use of Steroids creates big, bulky muscles to a person's body, but does nothing in terms of increasing an athletes endurance. I don't understand why Landis would use steroids in the first place, because extra muscle mass would make add to more weight, which would make him slower in the mountains. That's why I think he's innocent of taking some kind of testosterone boasting product. Now EPO is a different story, but he is being suspected of having taken that.

2006-07-29 06:14:26 · 3 answers · asked by conservativeguyfromnc 2

With all these "glass eyed" roadies riding around SD, it is not hard to imagine why so many are ran over and killed by passing cars. Here it's not EPO, it's methamphetamine! Afterall, they have allot of the "stuff" available here in America's finest city. These arrogant and selfish "roadies" are like mosquitos and need to be swatted! As a Mt. Biker, I swat them whenever I can. Just the other day I crashed one into a fire hydrant!

Landis will receive a deserving disgrace and will be remembered as one that did't escape like Armstrong. Not only has he disgraced the cycling sport; but his self, his family, and all his associates. It is indeed more than disgusting to see such cheating behaviour in the US competive sporting! Shame on you Mr. Landis !!

2006-07-29 02:58:13 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-07-29 02:16:58 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous

without traffic n signals i.e
pls also type in ur experience/period of practice.
i take 50min on mtb.

2006-07-28 19:11:12 · 12 answers · asked by rangeman 1

He has nothing good to say about Lance or Floyd. I suspect he may have been doping, but because it was so long ago, they didn't have a test yet. I think the cycling community should boycott him and not buy any bikes from him. Just watched Larry King and he had Lance on and he stood up for Floyd, unlike Greg.

2006-07-28 14:31:33 · 9 answers · asked by cannondalerick 3

If he's found guilty, do you think he should have to sacrifice the Yellow Jersey he worked so hard to win?

I think if he's found guilty, they should just let it go. The guy has already been publically humiliated, and has paid his price. And Plus, the more serious issue, the tests could be yielding False Positives as they have for other riders in the Past.

Convict an innocent Man? Not in America, anyway....

2006-07-28 13:53:02 · 14 answers · asked by conservativeguyfromnc 2

With all the performance enhancing drugs on the market, I can understand the temptation to use these drugs by competing athletes. Cheating has existed for many years but has not until recently reached this technical level. As an Ultramarathoner, I have thought about trying some of these drugs but dismissed the idea because, first, I did not want to cheat, and secondly I would undermine and nulify the integerity of the sport.

I also ride mountain bikes. To me, mountain biking is so much more friendly than traditional road bike riding and competing. The versatility and durability of the mt. bike is superior to the road bike and the rider is MUCH more friendly and lacks the egotisical arrogance of the road bike person. Most road bikers are rude and disrespectful on the road and demand unearned respect. Sometimes when I see them on the road, I crash into them, and ride off with a rear glance to insure they are well destroyed! Landis is one of those arrogant AH's.

2006-07-28 13:31:14 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-07-28 13:22:27 · 1 answers · asked by lemonhead120690 1

I don't know much about him and was disappointed to hear of this scandal, however after watching his interview today, he seems innocent. What do you think?

2006-07-28 13:03:17 · 9 answers · asked by Sunshine 4

MADRID, Spain (July 28) - Sounding more defiant than the day before, eyes flashing and voice steady, Floyd Landis looked into the cameras Friday and said he would prove he ''deserved to win'' the Tour de France.

In his first public appearance since a positive test for high testosterone cast his title into doubt, the American cyclist said his body's natural metabolism - not doping of any kind - caused the result, and that he would soon have the test results to prove it.


''We will explain to the world why this is not a doping case but a natural occurrence,'' Landis said from the Spanish capital.


The day before, in a teleconference from a location in Europe he did not disclose, Landis said he didn't cheat but had no idea what might have caused his positive test on the Tour's 17th stage, where he staked his stirring comeback in the Alps.

Should athletes be tested before any event and quananteened until the start of any sport....?

Drugs are a problem in sport-any ideas?

2006-07-28 13:02:50 · 8 answers · asked by marnefirstinfantry 5

2006-07-28 12:27:20 · 8 answers · asked by Graham B 1

im getting sick of it, dont get me wrong i love cycling and floyd but that stuff is getting old. all this testosterone crap is agrovating

2006-07-28 11:49:38 · 5 answers · asked by princesskd 2

This relates to the current Tour de France controversy. Floyd Landis apparently passed other drug tests during the Tour, but failed the one on the day he made his great comeback. Would a shot of testosterone that morning have helped him to win that stage or is it more of a long-term drug used to build muscle over weeks or months? I assume that, if it did not have short term effects, there is no reason he could have passed other drug tests, but not the one on the day in question. But I don't know. Any knowledgeable answers would be welcome.

2006-07-28 11:18:24 · 3 answers · asked by DBm41 2

2006-07-28 10:50:50 · 1 answers · asked by spineguy99 2

2006-07-28 08:47:53 · 10 answers · asked by Horny MOFO 2

2006-07-28 08:27:11 · 12 answers · asked by Roger 1

2006-07-28 07:42:26 · 12 answers · asked by princesskd 2

I am joining a biking group soon and I need to know what basic equipment needed for 25-40mile rides. Where are websites that offer quality affordable equipment?

2006-07-28 06:13:32 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-07-28 05:08:51 · 14 answers · asked by KirstenP 4

2006-07-28 03:54:54 · 9 answers · asked by hagar 1

What is the false positive rate?
How many times was Floyd tested?
Wasn't he tested on Saturday after getting the yellow jersey?
If testosterone only imparts benefit by taking for a few weeks why wouldn't he test positive earlier? Is that true?
If you believe that he was taking testosterone, why wouldn't he also take epitestosterone to keep the ratio correct?

2006-07-28 02:27:24 · 4 answers · asked by Moose C 3

2006-07-28 01:37:59 · 4 answers · asked by babalucyaa 1