Category: Tour de France 2006

Floyd Landis' wild ride to Paris

The 2006 Tour de France for Floyd Landis has been a series of ups and downs. Unlike the well-directed affairs that marked the latter years of Lance Armstrong's domination, this has been more like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Here's a recap of some events in Landis' Tour:

Prologue — Landis loses 8-10 seconds as he shows up late to the podium. It turns out that the team mechanic had to change a cut tire at the last minute, rather than risk having a flat on the road. (9th place — 9.26 seconds behind Thor Hushovd) …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/23/floyd-landis-wild-ride-to-paris/

Floyd Landis' Tour de France bike is a BMC

American cyclist Floyd Landis has been riding bicycles provided by BMC at the 2006 Tour de France.

The bicycle Landis will likely ride to Paris on Sunday is this carbon BMC Pro Machine SLC01, specially tricked out in the colors of his yellow jersey. …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/22/floyd-landis-tour-de-france-bike-is-a-bmc/

Landis regains lead for Tour de France victory ride to Paris

American Floyd Landis will ride to Paris in the yellow jersey on Sunday after finishing second in Saturday's individual time trial, unseating the two rivals ahead of him.

As the race for Paris is traditionally for a sprint win, not the overall title, Landis is destined to become the third American to win the Tour de France since Greg Lemond broke the barrier in 1986 and Lance Armstrong won a record 7 Tours between 1999 and 2005. …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/22/landis-regains-lead-for-tour-de-france-victory-ride-to-paris/

QuickStep rider wins Tour de France stage; Landis readies for time trial

After the emotional rollercoaster that is the Tour de France for Floyd Landis the past two days, Friday's Stage 18 was relatively uneventful.

Three cyclists attacked a 15-man breakaway about 10 miles from the finish in Macon. The three shadow-boxed for the last kilometer until Matteo Tosatto of QuickStep jumped and took the finish. …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/21/quickstep-rider-wins-tour-de-france-stage-landis-readies-for-time-trial/

Talk the talk about Floyd Landis

I would have to go back to 1989, when I watched the taped broadcast of Greg Lemond's final-day victory over Laurent Fignon, to recall a more exciting stage of the Tour de France.

It seemed that even Floyd Landis had accepted defeat after his disasterous Stage 16 collapse. What happened Thursday wasn't a miracle, it was pure guts. Here's a sample of what's been said and written in the past 24 hours about Landis: …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/21/talk-the-talk-about-floyd-landis/

Floyd Landis wins stage; he's the man to beat at Tour de France

American Floyd Landis rode his bicycle back to the leaders of the Tour de France on Thursday with an amazing effort to win the stage and claw back up to 3rd place, just 30 seconds behind the leader Oscar Pereiro.

The American cyclist's gutsy attack over four mountains on Thursday was as remarkable as Wednesday's ride was abysmal. That's when 1st place Landis cracked on the final climb, dropping back to 11th place and 8 minutes behind the leader. …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/20/floyd-landis-wins-stage-hes-the-man-to-beat-at-tour-de-france/

What happened to Floyd Landis?

(Update: On Thursday, Floyd Landis attacks on the first climb of the day and wins the stage. What did Mark Twain once say? “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”)

From 1st place to 11th place in 15 kilometers or less. That's the tale of the tape for Floyd Landis at the 2006 Tour de France.

Everyone knows Landis cracked on the final climb of Stage 16, struggling uphill as every rival passed him by. What happened? …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/20/what-happened-to-floyd-landis/

Landis destroyed on final climb; Pereiro back in lead at Tour de France

Oscar Pereiro is back in the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, but this time it was no gift from Floyd Landis and the Phonak team. The Spanish cyclist earned it.

Now American cyclist Landis, who started the day in the yellow jersey with a fairly clear path to Paris, sits in 11th place, more than 8 minutes behind the leader. His dreams of winning the Tour de France are shattered — scattered about the roadside like those of fellow US contenders George Hincapie and Levi Leipheimer. …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/19/landis-destroyed-on-final-climb-pereiro-back-in-lead-at-tour-de-france/

How isolated is Floyd Landis at the Tour de France?

Facing the fourth and last climb in the grueling 113-mile Stage 16 from Bourg d'Oisans to La Toussuire, Tour de France leader Floyd Landis has one teammate in the group with him.

As Michael Rasmussen scampering up the mountains 7 minutes ahead, and Levi Leipheimer launching a chase, American yellow jersey holder Landis is surrounded by his rivals. …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/19/how-isolated-is-floyd-landis-at-the-tour-de-france/

Floyd Landis lands in yellow again at Tour de France

American cyclist Floyd Landis' gambit to let another rider's team lead the Tour de France peloton worked — at least for Tuesday — as he climbed back into the lead on the slopes of fabled l'Alpe d'Huez.

Now it's his beleaguered Phonak team's turn to control the race as it struggles through two more days in the Alps before the final time trial on Saturday and Sunday's finish in Paris. …

Continue reading

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/07/18/floyd-landis-lands-in-yellow-again-at-tour-de-france/