It's a peddling reunion: Floyd Landis now staging a comeback

Elvis may join the party of comebacks, as Floyd Landis appears to be moving toward racing again in 2009.  He joins his BFF Lance Armstrong on the comeback peddles.  To Cycling News:

USA's Floyd Landis, 32, will make his return to professional cycling after a two-year suspension with the team currently sponsored by Health Net-Maxxis, under a new title sponsor for 2009, sources confirmed with Cyclingnews. The team, run by Momentum Sports Group, has also re-signed many of its current riders, including two-time NRC champion Rory Sutherland, current USA cyclo-cross champion Tim Johnson and Karl Menzies.

"I cannot confirm or deny it," said Momentum's sponsorship director, Thierry Attias, regarding Landis' signing. However numerous other sources familiar with the team confirmed that the agreement is in place, with the new title sponsor's agreement forthcoming. Sources have said the new sponsor is from the health care industry. This aligns with current speculation that Smith & Nephew, makers of Landis' artificial hip and sponsor of his mountain bike endurance racing, is a possible title sponsor.

As we all know, Landis is serving the most unjust 'outs' since Don Denkinger blew the call in the 1985 World Series.

Landis is currently serving a two-year suspension for a positive test of exogenous testosterone from stage 17 of the 2006 Tour de France. Landis went on to win the overall, but was stripped of that title after his appeal of the US Anti-Doping Agency's suspension was denied by the American Arbitration Association. The ASO and UCI named runner-up Oscar Pereiro as the official 2006 Tour winner soon after.

Landis lost his final appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS) in June, but the CAS did uphold that his suspension should run from when he officially stated his voluntary non-compete status – meaning that Landis will be free to race again as of January 30, 2009.

Rumours circulated early in 2008 that Rock Racing owner Michael Ball was interested in Landis, either as a racer or team director. Landis confirmed he was "advising" the younger riders and was seen with the team.

2009 shapes up to be a monumental year with Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis on the comeback ride.  Where is Jan Ullrich?  As pointed out below Tyler Hamilton is back for the trifecta, expect that actually makes 4 if you count his chimera twin.

Comments

[Brian]

Tyler Hamilton is already back, so your trifecta is already in place.

Even though they were on the same team for a few years, I don't think Landis and Armstrong were all that great of friends. If I recall correctly, there was quite a bit of animosity when Landis left Discovery Channel to be the leader of his own team.

[Roberto]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/08/06/scidrug106.xml

[CheatorBeat]

Despite the doping allegations, I think it is good for American Cycling to have the big names back on the bikes. At the same time we are getting new names out there and having some success. Considering the small percentage of American riders in the international fields at the Tour, Giro, and Vuelta, it is amazing the success that U.S. cyclers have enjoyed. With the Tour of California, Tour of Georgia, and Tour of Missouri gaining traction, I think the future of the sport in this country looks better than it ever has. Much of that is obviously thanks to Lance's notoriety.