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News :: July 2006

18 July 2006

Pressure Mounting on Landis

Floyd Landis, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

Floyd Landis (Phonak) is not in the Maillot Jaune but he spent one day as Tour de France race leader and many are selecting him as the man to win La Grand Boucle, ending in one week. The attention drawn to his press conference, held on the Tour's second rest day in Gap, was impressive and one that was deserving of a bigger and air-conditioned room.

"The next three days will be tough," said No-Fuss Floyd from the hotel where his team is staying. It was a day of rest and the American did a two hour ride, followed by a nap before talking to the press. He is not taking his focus on the Tour and he is marking his enemies on the eve of the days that are bound to decide this year's Tour.

"T-Mobile showed themselves to be very strong. Menchov, I don't know. The other day [stage finish to Pla-de-Beret] his team did all the work and then he just sat-in for the final. Evans is really the strongest; he did a lot of work in the break and then finished well. Levi, who did not have that much to gain, did not do that much work but looked good. ... Even if I am the favorite it won't affect what I do next."

Phonak does not seem to have the best team in the race; their capabilities were drawn into question on stage 11 when they failed to have anyone in the final with Landis. The American and his Swiss squadra are forcing a game of poker on themselves; relying other teams to help in the workload.

"On Alpe there are guys who really want to win and hopefully that will work to my advantage. I don't have the strongest team, like in the days of Discovery Channel or US Postal. There are other teams that will work and we have to gamble. No one team here rides through the mountains with nine guys. I am not too worried."

Landis thinking, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

Phonak started playing cards with stage 13 in to Montélimar. They let a breakaway go free and gain nearly 30 minutes, forcing the jersey over to Oscar Pereiro (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears). The team relied on Caisse to carry the load in stage 14 and will look towards them again in Tuesday's stage to L'Alpe d'Huez.

"If he [Pereiro] keeps the yellow for two more days then that will be fine for me," said Landis. "It works in my favor. I don't know if I am too worried about him, but it was a gamble but we had to do it. If he makes it through the mountains and then in the time trial he rides well, we lost the gamble. However, we feel confident in our decision."

The character and single-mindedness seems similar to the Tour's past champion, Armstrong. Landis felt indifferent to holding the Maillot Jaune for one day... "I did not feel any different because I am thinking more of Paris, where I want to be in the yellow. So I did not celebrate, my overall objective is at the end of the Tour."

When you were at US Postal did you think that you would ever be in a position like this? "Since I started racing on the road I had this dream but I did not go around telling everyone I would do it. It is not over with yet but I think at this point I proved I am strong enough to win the Tour. I am getting closer."

Landis' old teammate, Armstrong, is arriving to follow the Tour. How are your relations with your old teammate? "I always said that no one can replace Lance. I got a lot out of the three years I was with the team. I don't speak with him now, he is busy, more so than when he was a racer. I don't have any difficulties with him, at first I did but now nothing. I did not know he was coming and I am excited to see him again."

Landis believes that if he can stay with his rivals in the three major Alpine days then he can seal the deal in the final time trial. The American showed he was number one from the GC contenders in the first TT and has confidence he can do that again with the second TT. It is a risk that puts a lot of pressure on Landis...

"My objective is to get the time trial without losing any time," Landis continued. "I am comfortable with my TT abilities and winning a stage is not a priority. Maybe I can give stages away to gain some friends."

"The pressure does not bother me. I try not to pay attention to what others say, ignoring what is going on around me in the press. It does not serve any to worry about their predictions. I knew what the pressure was like from before because I rode with Lance. I saw the big crowds that gathered at the team bus then and I am used to it. It is not always a bad thing."

Peña Confident

Victor Hugo Peña, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

Victor Hugo Peña of Phonak will be one of the main mountain allies for Landis when the Tour de France hits the high Alps. The Colombian is confident in his American teammate and believes the other teams are not as strong as they appear.

Is Phonak strong enough of a team for Landis in the final week? "Everyone is talking of Rabobank," started Peña. "But they really only have three strong guys. If Rasmussen and Boogerd do all of the work to pull Menchov to the front and Landis is still there then?"

Landis thinks that you will receive help from other teams. "Yes. We will get help from the guys going for a stage win and the teams going for the team GC."

"It has been tough here in the last few days," continued Peña. "We have a complete team of nine riders but one by one we are getting sick. The other day Perdiguero got sick and now all of us are becoming sick."

93rd Tour de France - presented by , 1 - 23 July
Main, Startlist, Classifications, Tour Favorites, Team CSC versus T-Mobile
Stages and Maps, Key Stages, Overall Map
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17 July News ...