Floyd Landis has announced his return to professional cycling by sponsoring a new team focused on gravel and mountain bike races.
Landis, the first man in Tour de France history to be stripped of his title through doping convictions, had previously taken a two year hiatus.
He is a founder of Floyd’s of Leadville, which sells legal CBD products such as balms, protein and gel capsules.
The new team, Floyd’s of Leadville Racing, are set to compete with a five-rider roster.
Mountain Bike Hall of Famer Tinker Juarez is alongside Anne Donley, winner of the 500m National Junior title in speed skating and Taylor Lideen, recent winner of the 2021 Unbound XL in just under 23 hours.
Labelled as an ‘ascendant talent’, 21-year-old Victor Cashes recently finished 22nd at the Big Sugar Gravel Race in 2021.
Geneviève Jeanson additionally returns to racing in 2022 with Floyd’s of Leadville Racing. Jeanson had retired in 2006 after testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO).
Her lifetime ban was reduced to 10 years following cooperation in the investigation of her coach and physician. The pair received life bans from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport for the administration of a prohibited substance to a minor.
Two-time US Pro Duathlon National Champion Thomas has competed at the elite level for 40 years and will be Team Director and racer at select events.
Landis and David Zabriskie, also a former US Postal Service rider who admitted EPO use and retired in 2013, will additionally be guest racers at select events in 2022.
Landis said, ‘Bicycle racing is where our core customers spend their energy and attention and we felt that being at the races would be an important step to further grow our brand.
‘Our aim with the programme is to create a family feeling, and develop a racing culture that emphasises the experiences and stories we will share together, more than racing results.’
In 2010, Landis admitted to doping from 2002 until 2006, accusing riders such as Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel of doing the same.
Landis filed a whistleblower lawsuit under the Federal False Claims Act, with Armstrong ordered to pay his former US Postal Service teammate over $1 million.
With some of this money, Landis established Continental racing team Floyd’s Pro Cycling. The development team folded at the end of 2019.
His new team will follow an ‘aggressive schedule’ of gravel and mountain bike races across North America.
They have plans to compete at the Belgian Waffle Ride Quadruple Crown events, the Life Time Grand Prix Series and the Southeast Gravel Series.
Floyd’s of Leadville Racing is additionally sponsored by Squad Bicycles, Kask helmets and Wahoo Fitness.