May 24, 2020
It is easy to villify those who have made bad decisions. When someone is willing to tell the whole truth, show remorse, and help build a better future, however, then we believe their story should be told to perhaps prevent others from making the same choices. With that in mind, we bring you this interview with cycling whistleblower Floyd Landis.
Born and raised in the Mennonite community in southeastern Pennsylvania, Floyd started his career in cycling as a mountain biker. He had quick success there winning a junior national championship before switching to the roads where he turned pro in 1999.
After racing for the Mercury Cycling Team, he was noticed by one Lance Armstrong and joined the US Postal Service Team in 2002, where he served as a domestique for 3 of Lance's seven tour victories. It was also on the US Postal Team that he began experimenting with PEDs for the first time under the guidance of Dr. Michele Ferrari.
In 2005, Floyd joined Team Phonak and would become its team leader after teammate Tyler Hamilton was banned for a positive test at the 2004 Olympics. That led to a top 10 finish in the 2005 tour and the outright victory in 2006. 4 days later, Floyd had his own doping positive for synthetic testosterone which began a 4 year period of denial as he fought the allegations and subsequent suspension.
Finally in 2010, Floyd confessed and came clean about his own actions in what became one of the primary links in the chain to expose the truth about Lance Armstrong.
In this interview, Kara and Shanna question Floyd about it all with a primary focus on understanding what he thought and felt at every stage of his now-infamous journey into the dark side of the sport of cycling. He details the long process behind his own decision to cheat including the openness with which PEDs were discussed by insiders in the sport and what he felt when he put on that first testosterone patch.
He tells us what he was thinking on the top of the Tour de France podium and the anguish associated with the 4 year journey after that before he told the truth in 2010. Floyd also responds to one specific quote about him that airs in the ESPN 30 for 30 on Lance Armstrong to be released in two parts with part 1 on May 24th and part 2 on May 31st.
Plus, you hear why he ultimately told the truth and whether or not he is sorry for what he did. We want to thank Floyd for his openness and honesty. We believe sharing the truth behind his story matters, even though he chose the other path. His truth can make a difference for the future of clean sport.