Landis on the Dirt

[fueleater]

Vail - With a cold, hard rain ready to fall from stormy skies, embattled Tour de France winner Floyd Landis jumped from the back seat of an SUV, stood in the middle of the road and straddled the double yellow line between fame and notoriety.
"Would you take a photo with my signs?" Tracey Hawkins asked Landis.
How could he refuse? His dedicated cycling fan had braved a howling wind to show support for an athlete embroiled in a drug scandal that threatens to send the integrity of his sport crashing over the handlebars.
One sign declared: "Free Floyd."
The other sign profanely told the French race officials who have accused Landis of doping to stick it where a bicycle reflector light doesn't shine.
Wearing a grin, Landis enthusiastically scribbled his signature across the cardboard poster that urged to set him free. But before smiling for the camera, the American cyclist politely shooed away the more graphic protest sign, saying: "I've got enough P.R. problems. I don't need that."
With a surgically repaired hip and a badly damaged reputation, Landis competed Sunday on a skinny-tire bike for the first time since winning the 2006 Tour de France, unforgettable for the 17th stage that propelled him to victory and thrust him into controversy.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

[gurp13]

I'm sure most know it already, but Landis started out racing mountain bikes and moved to road.