Floyd Landis

Floyd Landis

Name	Floyd Landis
Birth name
Birth date	Birth date -1st March 1966
Birth place	Farmersville, Pennsylvania, USA
Death date
Death place
Alma mater
Occupation	Professional Cyclist
Years active
Organization
Known for	Winning and later being stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Floyd Landis (born October 14, 1975) is an American former professional road racing cyclist. He is best known for initially winning the 2006 Tour de France and subsequently being stripped of the title following a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs.

Early Life and Career

Floyd Landis was born in Farmersville, Pennsylvania, and grew up in a Mennonite family. He began cycling at a young age and quickly showed promise in the sport. Landis moved to California to pursue a professional cycling career, joining the Mercury Cycling Team in 1999.

Professional Career

Landis joined the U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team in 2002, where he rode in support of Lance Armstrong during his Tour de France victories. In 2005, Landis moved to the Phonak Cycling Team, where he became a team leader.

2006 Tour de France

Landis's most notable achievement came in 2006 when he won the Tour de France. His victory was marked by a remarkable comeback on Stage 17, where he launched a solo attack and gained significant time on his rivals. However, shortly after the race, it was announced that Landis had tested positive for synthetic testosterone.

Doping Controversy

The positive test led to a lengthy legal battle, during which Landis maintained his innocence. In 2007, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the decision to strip Landis of his Tour de France title, and he was banned from professional cycling for two years.

In 2010, Landis admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career and implicated other cyclists, including Lance Armstrong, in doping practices. This admission was a significant moment in the ongoing investigation into doping in professional cycling.

Post-Cycling Career

After retiring from professional cycling, Landis founded Floyd's of Leadville, a company that produces cannabis products. He has also been involved in various cycling-related ventures and advocacy for clean sport.

Legacy

Floyd Landis's career is often discussed in the context of the broader doping scandals that have affected professional cycling. His case highlighted the challenges of maintaining a clean sport and the complexities of doping investigations.

Also see

• Lance Armstrong
• Tour de France doping cases
• Performance-enhancing drugs in sport
• Court of Arbitration for Sport