Landis talking comeback, too

By Agence France Presse

Floyd Landis is planning to return to the peloton in 2009 after completing a ban for doping during the 2006 Tour de France, according to a report on ESPN.com.

The 32-year-old American is in discussions with a team run by the Momentum Sports Group, owner and operator of the Health Net-Maxxis squad, the sports network reported.

“We are in negotiations with Floyd Landis to ride for the team in 2009, but we do not as of yet have a signed contract,” said team director Mike Tamayo at the Tour of Missouri.

Landis won the 2006 Tour de France in spectacular fashion with a solo attack that virtually secured the yellow jersey only 24 hours after a dramatic collapse on stage 16.

However, days after the race it was disclosed that he had tested positive for the banned male sex hormone testosterone.

Landis protested his innocence, but has faced defeat at every turn as he battled to clear his name.

Landis launched his sports career at age 20 when he left his Mennonite community to become a professional mountain biker based in California.

He eventually joined up with Lance Armstrong’s U.S. Postal team but then left to join the Swiss outfit Phonak following a series of spats with his fellow American.

Armstrong also intends to come back to the professional peloton in 2009, after a three-year absence, in a bid to win an eighth yellow jersey at the Tour.

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