In Davis for Stage one roll out

We will be in Davis later today to see the 2009 ATOC riders begin stage one in heavy wind and rain. The wind woke us up this morning at Beth and Steve's house in Placerville. Of course, Davis in an hour or so west of here in the valley. Forecast is for rain and wind.

Local news coverage for the race is heavy here. Leading the headlines, the weather and sports section of the newscast.

Steve got some awesome photos with his fancy camera. I got to talk to and answer questions for a lot of fans in my volunteer course marshal position--"What color is Lance wearing?" "Can I cross the street here?"

Beth and Cindi got a great view from chairs in the grassy median of the Capitol Mall.

I predict both Floyd (my favorite) and Lance will move up in the rankings today.

Take Back the Tour

From the LA Times:

Versus came up with a striking promotional spot, "A New Stage Begins,'' in which some of the sport's most notorious dopers -- Erik Zabel, Alexander Vinokourov, Michael Rasmussen and Jan Ullrich -- are shown riding backward. The defrocked 2006 champion, Floyd Landis, is stripped of the yellow jersey.

The guys who sings on the ad is Paul Weller:

I'm gonna get myself straight.
I know it's never too late.
to make a brand new start.

I haven't really decided if I like the ad or not. It is emotionally powerful.

Watch the Tour

"I hope people who are interested in bicycle racing forget about me by the end of the week and turn on the television and watch the Tour, and give those guys the respect and attention they deserve,"

--Floyd Landis, July 1, 2008 to ESPN reporter Bonnie Ford

Can't forget Floyd, but we'll have the TV on.

News about news to come!

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will publish its decision on Floyd Landis' appeal on Monday, June 30 at 11 am EST. --From Journal of Competitive Cycling, June 27, 2008

More on Landis

KTTV, Channel 11, in Los Angeles says they have an interview with Landis at 10, they are showing footage of Floyd talking in front of the front door of his house.

The news was broke to the world by EDDIE PELLS, AP National Writer.

According to Ken Barbalce of EnvironmentalChemestry.com says, ". . .Today appears to be a very, very dark day for science, fairness and due process." You can read his summary of the information here.

Constant information update can be seen at Trust But Verify.

AP announces Landis verdict. . .

According to documents obtained by AP, and to be made public later Thursday, the vote was 2-1 to uphold the results, with lead arbitrator Patrice Brunet and Richard McLaren in the majority and Christopher Campbell dissenting.

Landis responds:

"This ruling is a blow to athletes and cyclists everywhere" "For the Panel to find in favor of USADA when, with respect to so many issues, USADA did not manage to prove even the most basic parts of their case shows that this system is fundamentally flawed. I am innocent, and we proved I am innocent."

The panel says that the lab did not do it's job and at least the first test cannot be trusted, and the second one is suspect. But the ruled 2-1 anyway. There is a ton of information out there Trust But Verify links to most of it. Both the majority and minority opinions are available a pdf downloads. More than I will be reading today.

Gotta go no and take medicine for my gout.

Called in to the Radio Station Today [Floyd Landis posting again]

Ted Chen, substituting for Patt Morrison, on KPCC 89.3, had David Walsh who had written a book about doping in professional cycling—his own fantasy version apparently from what he said on the radio today. I couldn’t imagine that he meant all the tests that showed no doping were wrong. So I called the station; they took my call on the air; and yup. He confirmed it.

I asked something like this:

It seems that Floyd Landis is asking us to believe that one test was in error when it showed that he may be positive. But, Mr. Walsh, who has just impugned the top 10 riders in this year’s Tour as dopers even though they have had negative performance enhancing drug (PED) tests. Therefore, does Mr. Walsh believe all the science and all the tests are wrong?

I believe that he confirmed that ALL negative tests are wrong. Otherwise some other people would be winning the race, not the current top ten. [It’s clear isn’t it?] It seems the thesis of his book is that Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis clearly doped because he says so and science is wrong. After all he knows some who says so too.

He went on to say that many kinds of PED cannot be tested for. Which clearly indicates that riders are using those too. Otherwise how could they win.

I understand now Landis’ annoyance when responding to some of his detractors if they are using this kind of logic.

I think Mr. Chen did a nice job handling Mr. Walsh. Chen seemed unbiased against Walsh [as I clearly am] and had some knowledge of the issues at hand. Mr. Chen was substituting and is a report from NBC4 in Los Angeles. KPCC is a Los Angeles NPR affiliate.

Trust But Verify

My post about Floyd below was featured on Trust But Verify today on Thursday's Roundup. Check me out!

Landis in Pasadena Borders--UPDATED

So, I trekked up to Pasadena to meet Mr. Landis last night. I arrived about half an hour early as the manager was trying to figure out where to put more chairs. There were maybe forty chairs already filled in a corner of the store. He must have set up another 20 chairs a few minutes later as I counted about 60 chairs. By 7 PM at least 4 times that many people standing among the book stacks waiting for Floyd who showed up about 7:30.

Floyd made some opening remarks and then answered questions.



A couple of interesting things I heard at the event:

Giro helmets, the Smith & Nephew the hip resurfacing system manufacturer and one other have remained sponsors since the accusations came out last fall.

Today in Riverside is the last stop on the one-month tour de book. After which, according to Brook, the publicist, Floyd will disappear to prepare for the Leadville 100 in Colorado.

Floyd says he loves California and hopes to live here in the sunshine as long as possible. Where does he like to ride? From his home in Murrieta to Mt. Baldy or to Mt. Palomar.

I thanked Floyd for his comment about having only "smart" fans now--everyone else has left. It is hard to understand all the details of the defense.

You can read some of the questions and another perspective at a blog called Glendora Mountain Road.

UPDATE: The other remaining sponsor is CycleOps Power Tap.

Another Floyd Post

This is mostly for Rob. Even though I had decided to not post about Floyd any more. I read this from the Seattle Times after the writer saw Floyd at a book signing.

I am going to Borders on Tuesday or Wednesday this week to get my book autographed. I am pretty sure that Daniel is going with me. Rob, you can join us if you want to.

"Landis lawyer blasts testing lab"

Hearing this week in Malibu

Floyd has a public hearing with USADA this week in Malibu at Pepperdine. The Wall Street Journal has an article in its public area here.

More Reading about Floyd Landis

An article from the North County newspaper was ar the same event we were and his article is here.

Floyd or his people have a blog style web site here.

And you can read the Floyd Fairness Fund website.

What's Fair is Clear

Last night, after our hard work as TOC volunteers in Long Beach, Cindi and I made our way over the Vincent Thomas bridge to San Pedro for an evening with Floyd Landis. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening for me. Took some pictures, shook Floyd's hand, listened to the presentation on fairness in drug testing in sport.

Speaking of Floyd

Floyd signing water bottles in Sacramento. His line was the longest. Many people waiting line were saying postive things about him.

Free Floyd!

I'm with floyd.

Floyd Landis…the Truth, the Fans, and the Future

The announcement of Floyd’s second drug test clouded the day. We cheered for him, a California resident, as winner of the Tour of California 2006. He inspired us with effort, tenacity with a disintegrating hip, and humble beginnings. We delighted watching Landis win the Tour de France 2006.

May he be vindicated. I offer the benefit of the doubt, and avoid other annoying problems: betraying a team, sponsors, family, and fans. When does reality preclude hopeful hearts? Not today.

Always tell the truth, Floyd. If you are guilty, can you swing a bat? Other professional sports are more forgiving.

dang... first floyd's scandal, then mel gibson gets busted for "drink-driving." i have no untarnished heroes left...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5226204.stm

Floyd's Neighbor Writes

Tomorrow's Whittier Daily News will carry this article by Floyd Landis' neighbor in Murietta.

I enjoyed reading it. Thought you might too.