Post by Benj on Aug 14, 2007 20:29:31 GMT 8
Landis crashes, finishes second at Leadville Trail 100
LEADVILLE, Colo. (AP) -- Shorts torn and blood covering his right leg from hip to ankle, Floyd Landis lumbered across the finish line almost in slow motion.
He paused for a moment to check on his wounds, grabbed a sip of water, then weaved through traffic and headed uphill through a neighborhood. Five blocks later, Landis arrived at a white house with blue trim, parked his bike and went inside, where he grabbed a much-needed beer and tended to his injuries.
The altitude of the Rocky Mountains had taken much of his strength and the gravel path big chunks of his skin, but Landis was at ease with his second-place finish at the Leadville Trail 100 on Saturday. After what he's been through over the past year, the embattled Tour de France champion was happy to have his mind someplace else, even just for a few hours.
"This race was good because it was something to train for and I could focus on that," said Landis, sitting on a green couch inside the rental house during a one-on-one interview with the Associated Press. "I couldn't completely forget about the other stuff, but at least was something to focus on. When there's nothing going on, I just end up thinking about things."
He's had a lot to think about.
He was swarmed at the start of the Leadville race by fans wanting autographs, pictures or just to thank him for supporting Colorado. Landis received similar greetings during a 10-day book tour last month and greeted all the well-wishers with that same warmhearted smile he's always had -- despite everything that's going on.
LEADVILLE, Colo. (AP) -- Shorts torn and blood covering his right leg from hip to ankle, Floyd Landis lumbered across the finish line almost in slow motion.
He paused for a moment to check on his wounds, grabbed a sip of water, then weaved through traffic and headed uphill through a neighborhood. Five blocks later, Landis arrived at a white house with blue trim, parked his bike and went inside, where he grabbed a much-needed beer and tended to his injuries.
The altitude of the Rocky Mountains had taken much of his strength and the gravel path big chunks of his skin, but Landis was at ease with his second-place finish at the Leadville Trail 100 on Saturday. After what he's been through over the past year, the embattled Tour de France champion was happy to have his mind someplace else, even just for a few hours.
"This race was good because it was something to train for and I could focus on that," said Landis, sitting on a green couch inside the rental house during a one-on-one interview with the Associated Press. "I couldn't completely forget about the other stuff, but at least was something to focus on. When there's nothing going on, I just end up thinking about things."
He's had a lot to think about.
He was swarmed at the start of the Leadville race by fans wanting autographs, pictures or just to thank him for supporting Colorado. Landis received similar greetings during a 10-day book tour last month and greeted all the well-wishers with that same warmhearted smile he's always had -- despite everything that's going on.