The city nestled at more than 3000 meters above sea level is reputed to be the highest in the United States. It is here in Leadville, a small town of 2,000 souls in Colorado two hours from Denver, that Floyd Landis built his new life.
At the head of "Floyd's of Leadville", the former winner who was ousted for doping from the Tour de France 2006 has converted to an activity prohibited in France but completely legal in his State and part of America: the sale of cannabis and its derivatives. "I see you coming, laughs the old yellow jersey on the phone. You'll tell me: after the dope, Floyd got into drugs. It will definitely not come out… ”
Cannabis in cartridges, lotions, patches
Reality, like its history, is more complex. “After 2006, I fell low, very, very low. I fell into great suffering. I took a lot of filth that cannabis replaced. Marijuana made me sleep. "
Today, he sells them, without hiding in the eyes of the law. The former Phonak runner, at the head of several stores in the United States, offers cannabis in cartridges, lotions, patches under the logo of a company reminiscent of the rainbow jersey of the world champion, a race that the American has never won. Professional runner from 1999 to 2006, he nevertheless climbed on top of the world.
Roses are red🌹 ⠀
Gems are sweet ⠀
Buy 1lb of Protein or Hydration ⠀
And enjoy a free 5ct CBD treat ⠀
Happy Vday to all the CBD lovers out there 💋⠀
* Hurry, sale ends midnight 2/14 pic.twitter.com/8diaYYr8xX
On July 23, 2006, Floyd Landis was the king of the world. At 31, the former lieutenant of Lance Armstrong arrives in yellow on the Champs-Elysées. In the absence of the chief, gone for a first retreat, he shines. Three days earlier, his incredible number on the slopes leading to Morzine struck the spirits. The guy is strong, very strong.
Oddly very even: at the arrival of this 17th stage, the American, born in a very rigorous Mennonite community (Christian Anabaptist movement), tested positive for testosterone. Six days after the triumph on the Champs-Élysées, his victory was taken away from him in favor of the Spaniard Oscar Pereiro. Floyd Landis no longer appears on any list of the Great Loop.
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VIDEO. His victory at Morzine in 2006
"It is a very strange story that mine, says the former runner. I repressed it for a long time deep within me. Talking about it was impossible for me. Now, I can evoke this period of my life, it is part of me, I cannot deny it. "
Before crossing this col out of category, Landis sank into an endless depression abusing alcohol and drugs. Rarely has a champion climbed so high to descend so low as suddenly, even if it is his fault. "I still think cycling is a wonderful sport," he says. For over 10 years, however, it was impossible for me to approach a bicycle. It was almost a cursed object. Now I enjoy riding alone. But my mind continues to struggle between two feelings: the great pleasures that this sport gave me and the great sufferings that it brought me. "
He put together a cycling team
Like the others, Floyd Landis took a long time to admit his fault before recognizing everything in court. "I made decisions ..." he breathes before stopping. When I look back, I sometimes have a feeling of shame and I know that I would not take the same. But it is too late, alas to rewrite this book. It is mine and it is so. "
In his career, the former champion has kept nothing. He gave everything: his bikes like his jerseys. In her wardrobe, she only has three yellow overcoats at the bottom of a stack of shirts. They're not even hers: they were given to her by Lance Armstrong who wrote “Thank You” on them. It was at the time when the two men were accomplices. "A film" The Program "by Stephen Frears tells of this incredible and oh so complicated relationship between us, says Floyd Landis. What can I say about it? It's a good entertainment film, but you shouldn't see more. It's complicated to sum up a life in 90 minutes on a screen. "
VIDEO. The Program trailer
From now on, Armstrong and Landis hate each other and have no relation if not by interposed courts. Besides, with the trial money collected after the complaint against his former leader (Landis had collected 1.1 million out of the 5 million paid by Armstrong to avoid a trial), Floyd Landis mounted… a professional cycling team, the "Floyd's of Leadville Pro Cycling Team" which disappeared from the peloton at the end of 2019, for lack of means: "It may sound crazy to you but I like to share my passion with young riders. During the whole duration of this adventure with my team which won a lot of races in America, my speech with the young runners was simple: be patient, it is a hard sport but if you work well, the reward always comes at the end. "
He returned to the Tour, anonymously
These two years, the former pariah made peace with cycling: “For years, I couldn't watch a race on TV, it was too painful. Now I can. I even watch the Tour de France and find pleasure in it. Landis even returned physically to the race, anonymously: "Yes, that's right. Three-four years ago, I was in the crowd for the last stop in Paris. I was a fan like the others. I don't think anyone recognized me there. It was a very pleasant moment. The memory of his triumph a decade earlier crossed his mind, even furtively.
"France offered me the most beautiful and the worst moments of my life," he says. But how to blame him: I am responsible for what happened to me. I really love your country which has especially given me the most beautiful thing in the world: my wife Alexandra who is French. And I finally hope that the French forgive me for making their Tour de France suffer. I hope that 14 years later, they don't hold it against me anymore. "