As one who rides a bicycle, a lot, I'm saddened. I'm only a commuter, and I enjoy it. I experience the same freedom I did when I learned to fly.

Synthetic testosterone is all by itself evidence of doping. A ratio of 11-1 testosterone-epitestosterone when the average is 2-1 or 1-1 and positive is considered over 4-1 is pretty grim.

A great case can be made that competitive bicycle road racing is the most difficult sport out there, with the exception of some of the isolated endurance events. And it's a shame that folks are driven to drugs by the very competitive nature of it.

The team he races for is riddled with doping and folks disqualified for doping. I wouldn't be surprised, though, to see someone on his team say that he slipped Landis something when they were drinking, and Landis wasn't aware of it.

That would lessen the penalties for the guy.

Arf