Tour De France Winner: I'll Ride Again

One Week After Hip Surgery, Floyd Landis Says He'll Be Exonerated

(CBS)  The controversial winner of this year's Tour de France, Floyd Landis, has had hip replacement surgery. Along with a medical recovery, Landis hopes to recover his good name and insists he did not use performance-enhancing drugs.

Landis faces a two-year suspension from racing and the possible loss of his Tour de France title. There will be a hearing on the matter in early 2007.

Less than a week after surgery, and just over two months after his dramatic come-from-behind victory in the Tour de France, Landis is preparing to pedal again.

"I'll never forget the way the race went, the ups and downs in the race and the last day. It was one of the best experiences of my life," he told The Early Show national correspondent Hattie Kauffman.

Landis says his lowest point came when we learned that he had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

"That was the worst because at that point I didn't have any evidence or any way to argue," he said.

The test showed Landis had elevated levels of testosterone and put him under a cloud of suspicion that has not lifted. He still has the yellow jersey worn by the Tour leader and the trophy that goes with it.

"Some people would like to take away the title, but in the end they won't," he said.

There will be a hearing early next year to determine if Landis will be the first champion in the Tour's 103-year history to be stripped of the title — something said he has wanted for more than a decade.

"Since I started cycling, it's the high point, it's the peak, it's as hard as it gets," he said.

Landis had to work very had to get back on a bike, let alone ride in the Tour de France. He fractured his hip in a bike crash three years ago, and it was held together by pins. By the time Tour de France began this summer, the bone had begun to die. The damage caused one leg to be an inch shorter than the other.

"I didn't see it as a handicap," he said. "I couldn't peddle with my right leg as hard as I was I was able to before, but I had my left leg."

After the hip surgery, described as a new technique, his personal physician, Dr. Brent Kay said he expects Landis to return to professional cycling.

Landis is still passionate about cycling. His garage is a testament to his dedication. There's not a car in sight; instead, the garage is home more bike paraphernalia than you can imagine.

Landis has said he wants to race and compete in the Tour de France again. The problem, for now, is that he was fired by his Swiss team, Phonak. He believes he will have a team again if he can prove the elevated testosterone test was faulty.

"Now I'm even more motivated to prove to them that I didn't (use performance enhancing drugs), first of all, and after that, to go and win the race so I can have a proper celebration," Landis said. "And I think when everyone gets to see that I was innocent and am innocent, that they'll want to celebrate with me."

[acko1168]

In today's society, it's hard not to be cynical. However, one questions pops to mind. Could it be possible that hard-training athletes, like cyclists, might have naturally occurring high testosterone levels?

Food for thought.

[neitherone]

I hope he will come back to the Pro Cycling tour and win another Tour de France. Even though he may have juiced during the last TDF, he's a widely respected rider (and human being) among many pros and fans equally.

[jimbo505]

I don't think Landis will be cleared. He needs to fess up!