Cycling: Sky is the limit – or Sky is over? Floyd Landis expressed his suspicion in the Guardian that the Chris Froome case could end the era of Team Sky. After the initial zero-tolerance policy, Sky could not simply continue as it was after this incident. In any case, Landis considers Sky's position against doping to be purely a PR campaign.
Landis: "The whole thing is imploding"
Floyd Landis is probably not a hero to most cycling fans. The now 42-year-old played an active part in a very dark chapter of the Tour de France. In 2006 he won the Tour de France, but was subsequently stripped of the title – because of doping. Only years later did he admit to the abuse and, as a key witness and whistleblower, helped bring down Lance Armstrong. 11 years ago, Landis almost single-handedly ensured that his Phonak team steered towards the end. Now he sees something similar coming to Team Sky in the case of Chris Froome.
Floyd Landis: "When something like this happens to someone with that high profile, it usually means the whole thing implodes. If I were a member of the board, an executive of Sky or any of the companies they sponsor, I would be long gone. At some point they have to make a decision that is ethical.”
Chris Froome's failed test will be the end of Team Sky, warns Floyd Landis https://t.co/ta40pmbBGx
— Jean Louis Legalery (@jlLegalery) 16 January 2018
Zero tolerance policy at Sky? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that!
Apart from Chris Froome's conspicuous test, Floyd Landis does not seem to trust Team Sky. As recently as 2010, Sky advocated a so-called zero-tolerance policy. Steven de Jongh and Bobby Julich have been fired as Sport Directors after their involvement in past doping practices was revealed. At the latest after the incidents involving Bradley Wiggins and now Chris Froome, Sky's credibility seems to be gone.
Floyd Landis: "The belief in the zero-tolerance policy no longer exists. That was never real. It was just a great PR move with all these cute little lines they came up with."
Landis on Froome: 'I feel for him'
Bradley Wiggins' former trainer Shane Sutton defended his protégé as expected after all the allegations. In general, the entire leadership of the team seems to be fully behind its drivers - no matter what. Such a tight-knit group is strongly reminiscent of the times of Lance Armstrong in his former team US Postal - where Floyd Landis was also a part. However, Floyd Landis is currently able to understand Chris Froome's behavior: "He's trying to defend himself because he has everything to lose. I really feel for him.”
Floyd Landis: "From what Shane said, we know they pushed the envelope on certain things, like just now with Froome's failed test. If you consider all these things, you can no longer defend this team. Any sane person would have more and more questions.”
Floyd Landis: "Personne ne va croire à la defense de Froome" https://t.co/ppylYyeDPD via Trickle
— antonio martins (@antonio75P) 16 January 2018
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