Landis letter re drug use in cycling

[Alpe d'Huez]

Yes, it does depend on details, if any. IF he was as thorough as Joe Papp with keep info and taking photos...

The only thing is - why a 'letter' to 'senior Cycling official', why not just say I saw this and that and did this and that? (of course this could be a way to corroborate the story)

Two guesses - One is to assuage his burden. Confess to the highest order, and the more weight is lifted from what you're carrying. The other is to (believe it or not) help put an end to cycling after seeing the light.

 

[eleven]

"Widespread drug use" in the peloton in the years leading up to the 2006 Tour?

In a story with just as much shocking impact, Chris Weber just confirmed that there's widespread pot use in the NBA!

I'm not sure whose more easily dismissable, Chris Weber or Floyd Landis. I actually feel bad for Landis - he's like the guy who gets a ticket for going 59 in a 55 b/c the officer needs to hit his quota.

Edited to add: I understand the story is more that he's breaking the omerta than the fact that riders were doping.

 

[Race Radio]

Yeah, that about nails it. This was actually supposed to come out on Monday, but I think legal wrangling has already begun. The wheels on this were set in motion weeks ago, with supposedly day 1 of the ToC to be d-day. I figured it would never see the light of day, but there are a couple of guys in the bunch who are pretty uptight, to say the least!

Personally I find it really funny. And they can all kiss my a$$.

Yes, It was the real reason Armstrong flew back from Europe a few weeks ago.

 

[Big Doopie]

Two guesses - One is to assuage his burden. Confess to the highest order, and the more weight is lifted from what you're carrying. The other is to (believe it or not) help put an end to cycling after seeing the light.

isn't that what lemond counseled him to do during their phone conversation 4 years ago?

once again, lemond has proved to be correct and far-sighted.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Yes, it does depend on details, if any. IF he was as thorough as Joe Papp with keep info and taking photos...


Two guesses - One is to assuage his burden. Confess to the highest order, and the more weight is lifted from what you're carrying. The other is to (believe it or not) help put an end to cycling after seeing the light.

Oh, to clarify - what I meant was if FL has decided to tell all then why send in a 'letter to a senior cycling official' - which on its own proves little.
Why not send in direct details implicating certain people or fotos, assuming he has them.

 

[Hillavoider]

People never leak sensitive info directly, its always addressed to someone else then leaked to cover themselves. Floyd gets sued by Lance, Floyd says it was not meant to become public

Floyd will make good money out of this. Ha ha, i thought it had been a bit too quiet lately, especially with some amazing performances on the cobbles that have gone completely unquestioned this year.

 

[IntheMidwest]

The CN subheader says "Letter claims of widespread drug use". If it's legit, this ain't just about Floyd coming clean about his own doping, and surely Floyd knows that just making unsubstantiated accusations won't hold water (not to mention will get him sued, and I think the last thing Floyd is looking for right now is to be sued).

Course, anything about doping at Phonak would hardly be revelatory.

Um, not if Floyd comes clean about his own accounts of using PEDS throughout his professional career. Is Floyd going to sue Floyd?

 

[Race Radio]

Oh, to clarify - what I meant was if FL has decided to tell all then why send in a 'letter to a senior cycling official' - which on its own proves little.
Why not send in direct details implicating certain people or fotos, assuming he has them.

Perhaps it was mandated as part of his.....um, well, it will all come out soon enough.

 

[Ferminal]

This was bound to happen after Bahati didn't get a ToC wildcard. Floyd's not going to put up with a week of the marketing facade, knowing that he can do something about it.

The time has come.

 

[hfer07]

I only hope FLandis gets the piece of mind he's seeking(and perhaps a piece of Land) regardless the outcome of this new mess--He is bitter with just reasons & paid a lot while others profit/enrich without any punishment

 

[filipo]

Why would they announce it before confirming sources? That seems journalistically suspect if not down right stupid. I can assure you that there are lawyers springing into action as we speak. Preemptive assessment of the legal ramifications of publishing such a letter? Maybe they want to see who contacts them and what those attorneys have to say? Maybe not so stupid?

You seem to have mistaken the CN crew for real journalists.

On a less snide note: If this letter was indeed from Floyd, and if it is indeed the molotov that most people here are hoping it to be, I bet the see-no-EPO Tour of California organizers are sh!tting themselves silly that they skipped over Bahati's team this year. Americans on American teams getting outed as drug cheats = no more AToC.

Also, if the letter is what it could be, it puts a whole new light on Floyd's snarking on "Team High Horse"...

 

[Kennf1]

People never leak sensitive info directly, its always addressed to someone else then leaked to cover themselves. Floyd gets sued by Lance, Floyd says it was not meant to become public

Floyd will make good money out of this. Ha ha, i thought it had been a bit too quiet lately, especially with some amazing performances on the cobbles that have gone completely unquestioned this year.

Nope. You send the letter to one person and you have "published" it.

Not sure I agree with your leaking theory. Deep throat leaked his information directly to the Washington Post. Daniel Ellsberg leaked the pentagon papers directly to the New York Times.

 

[tubularglue]

i hope he dedicates some content of his letter to the inner working of the UCI.

CAS?UCI? who hasn't been paid off

Wonder if he has been in touch with Lemond ?


what a great governing body

(the French found dripbags with seven unique profiles / 2009)

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/french-agency-targets-astana-for-illegal-transfusion-kit

 

[thehog]

Oh, to clarify - what I meant was if FL has decided to tell all then why send in a 'letter to a senior cycling official' - which on its own proves little.
Why not send in direct details implicating certain people or fotos, assuming he has them.

I think part of the problem in the past Is that said cycling officals would never do anything with a letter like this. Hence sending it to media outlets.

Further reports tell me several newspapers have the letter.

Still can't understand why there is jack about it anywhere else.... At the moment.

 

[Oldman]

Yes, it does depend on details, if any. IF he was as thorough as Joe Papp with keep info and taking photos...


Two guesses - One is to assuage his burden. Confess to the highest order, and the more weight is lifted from what you're carrying. The other is to (believe it or not) help put an end to cycling after seeing the light.

If we know much about Floyd it is that he relies on the support of others. That's how he got into cycling and it's doubtful he was thorough with details/documents back then. As I've mentioned (too many times) there were suspicions back in the Motorola days where even Ochowicz's staff were asking what LA was doing to gain size during extended Winter 6 hr rides. They didn't know and I doubt Floyd knows much except what may have been given to him. Without real evidence this will be a press rumor and probably fade away unless Floyd has something to gain from some old, saved genetic material fished out of a dumpster.

 

[theswordsman]

"We are awaiting responses from individuals involved and hope to bring you full details shortly."

This doesn't necessarily say that the people from whom they're awaiting responses are Floyd or the cycling official. It could be responses from people who are named, giving them a chance to have their response in the article, or so CN can add that their phone calls to the manager or whatever weren't returned.

I'm not forgetting the "purported" bit, but again, there are dozens of stories from the two races that won't be posted, so there's no reason for them too put this out there if they aren't pretty sure. This is a way to lt the world know they have it first. And I'll be really surprised if it turns out to generate revenue, unless it turns into a book.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Nope. You send the letter to one person and you have "published" it.

Not sure I agree with your leaking theory. Deep throat leaked his information directly to the Washington Post. Daniel Ellsberg leaked the pentagon papers directly to the New York Times.

Actually 'Hillavoiders' theory is not bad at all. If Floyd had released 'the letter' himself and exposes the practices of named individuals he could be hit with suits from those individuals.

What I am really interested in is who is the official and for who do they work for.
If those who had the letter failed to act - to protect interested parties - it could blow the sport apart. If heads roll then it could be good for the sport in the medium term.

 

[Anonymous]

 

[thehog]

If we know much about Floyd it is that he relies on the support of others. That's how he got into cycling and it's doubtful he was thorough with details/documents back then. As I've mentioned (too many times) there were suspicions back in the Motorola days where even Ochowicz's staff were asking what LA was doing to gain size during extended Winter 6 hr rides. They didn't know and I doubt Floyd knows much except what may have been given to him. Without real evidence this will be a press rumor and probably fade away unless Floyd has something to gain from some old, saved genetic material fished out of a dumpster.

He does have photos of the blood bikes from the Tour in 04.

 

[tubularglue]

who is to say he does not have evidence?

from what i have read / nothing to lose, nothing to take.


Any info on the warrants outcome?

 

[Kennf1]

Mennonite?

 

[Dr. Maserati]

"We are awaiting responses from individuals involved and hope to bring you full details shortly."

This doesn't necessarily say that the people from whom they're awaiting responses are Floyd or the cycling official. It could be responses from people who are named, giving them a chance to have their response in the article, or so CN can add that their phone calls to the manager or whatever weren't returned.

I'm not forgetting the "purported" bit, but again, there are dozens of stories from the two races that won't be posted, so there's no reason for them too put this out there if they aren't pretty sure. This is a way to lt the world know they have it first. And I'll be really surprised if it turns out to generate revenue, unless it turns into a book.

No - I don't agree.

If 'the letter' names rider X and CN call rider X then they will probably deny it and say they will open proceedings to withhold CN from releasing the contents of the letter.

I would assume that once whoever had the letter (official or organization) confirm that they received the letter the first step is to see if they confirmed the source of the letter - ie Landis.
If they confirm that it was Landis (or his legal team) who sent it then it will matter little if Landis denies ever sending a letter.

 

[ChrisE]

If those who had the letter failed to act - to protect interested parties - it could blow the sport apart. If heads roll then it could be good for the sport in the medium term.

Maybe that is why it is coming out....because nothing happened when he sent it.

How long ago was he on Larry King defending himself? I didn't hear about that, recently that is.

 

[Race Radio]

Maybe that is why it is coming out....because nothing happened when he sent it.

How long ago was he on Larry King defending himself? I didn't hear about that, recently that is.

Couple months ago, it was sad.

 

[ChrisE]

Couple months ago, it was sad.

So, WTF is up with this 180 if he was on there spewing the same old shyt?