Reader’s write on Landis’ status, Lance Fatigue solutions, ‘cross wardrobe malfunctions, and more.

Do you want to contribute to Mailbag, a regular feature of VeloNews.com? Here’s how:

• Keep it short. And remember that we reserve the right to edit for grammar, length and clarity.
• Include your full name, hometown and state or nation.
• Send it to webletters@insideinc.com.

Wardrobe malfunction
Editors,

Is it just me, or does the skinsuit that the U.S. women’s cyclocross team wore at the World Championships look like it was designed by the Iranians? Red, white and … black? Where’s the blue? On the bib number? Geez.

For crying out loud, you would not have known these were folks racing for the good ol’ U.S. of A unless the side of the skinsuit said “USA” on it.

Compare this to the one of Katie Compton back in 2006, wearing the colors while racing for the USA. I really think they could have done much better with the design, but to summarize this race for the USA, it appeared that it was just one huge wardrobe malfunction when all was said and done … read on …

Do you think they could have made the damn thing with knicker length leggings so her knee warmers wouldn’t have fallen down around her ankles?

I’ve had the same thing happen to me, but then, I am just a mere mortal and it hardly made any difference in my placement … but I know it certainly didn’t make me faster! I don’t see what the problem would have been to have a skinsuit with short length and one with knicker length leggings. Pretty poor planning if you ask me.
Cory Kramer,
Parker, Colorado

Leaps for Levi
Editor,

I’d like to second Tim Fellman’s complaint about Lance Fatigue, in your January 30 Mailbag.

I’d also like to add another vote that Levi Leipheimer get a little more coverage. There is little doubt he is one of the finest cyclists the United States has ever produced, and on top of this (and at least as importantly) he exemplifies a fine sense of sportsmanship. Yet he is perpetually underplayed in the media. It’s really a shame.
Harry Remer

Landis: Former winner?
Editor,

Whether the win was legitimate or not, it’s a fact that Floyd Landis is a “former winner” of the Tour de France. Up until he was disqualified, he was merely a “winner.”

Please don’t stop referring to him in this most accurate and slightly humorous way.
Mike Johnson,
Cincinnati, Ohio

More
Editor,

To keep your publication consistent, if Floyd Landis is going to be referred to as “former Tour winner,” should you not refer to Oscar Pereiro as “previous Tour non-winner’?
Rick Guerrero,
Dana Point, California

And more
Editor,

Please, please, please keep referring to Floyd Landis as “the former winner of the 2006 TDF” because he is. For the people who don’t agree with me, too bad because the facts are the facts.
K.K. Rupert,
Hershey, Pennsylvania

Sour grapes?
Editor,

Sour grapes or denial, there are two camps you can chose from when it comes to Floyd Landis, the former winner of the 2006 Tour de France.

I prefer to live in the land where the river flows against time and gravity. I saw Floyd perform that beautiful day in July. I celebrated his win and can’t erase that feeling of euphoria.

I booked my flight to Sacramento as soon as the announcement was made; Floyd Rides Again! I believe in miracles and I will cheer again for a true champion.
Russell Polsgrove,
Simsbury, Connecticut

Not insulted
Editor,

I was in no way insulted when VeloNews referred to Floyd as a “former winner of the Tour De France.” In fact, I thought to myself “right on!”

I ride with quite a few people and all of us feel Floyd was framed. The whole thing was such a (not funny) joke. I will never accept what’s his name as winning the 2006 Tour.

Floyd was and always be a Tour champion. No insult intended.
Patrick Caselli,
San Jose, California

PS: Love the new issue with Lance, Floyd and Ivan. You just guaranteed my subscription renewal.

Tour Royalty
Editor,

Please please please stop referring to Floyd Landis as “the former winner of the 2006 Tour de France.”

Check the background of the case and you’ll see he was royally screwed. Calling him anything other than the winner is a travesty.
Richard Glover,
Seattle, Washington

Millar’s confession
Editor,

A reader writes about David Millar:

“How many more letters do you intend to publish based on the fairy tale that David Millar is different from other dopers because he ‘admitted it?’

It doesn’t really take much courage to “admit it” when you’ve been caught red handed.

Unfortunately, with so many high-profile cyclists being caught red-handed and then coming up with some truly bizarre explanations, the bar has been set very low.

I think Millar gets a nod for at least not insulting our intelligence by throwing around every excuse in the book. In a sport apparently rife with denial, it does take some courage to “come clean” even when caught red-handed.

He could have said his weight-lifter mother must have left the works in his house when she was dropping off brownies, then kept up the pretense of innocence while waiting for his suspension to end.
Mark Roland,
Beacon, New York

Worlds preview rocked
Editor,

Charles Pelkey’s preview of the Cyclocross World Championships was fantastic — especially the photos of the course. I don’t think I have ever seen a preview this good: an empty race course serene before the racers bring their awesome and entertaining chaos.

Please do this approach with other races: the Giro/the Tour/anything: it really brings the race city/ region’s beauty and special challenges into focus and into the imagination.

Thank you.
Steffan Havas,
Palos Verdes, California

Lance fatigue, technical solution:
Editor,

I just wanted to remind all the people who are tired of articles about Lance Armstrong that they don’t have to read them. I’ve always enjoyed any good tidbit I can get on any major competitor. Keep up the good work, VeloNews.
Doug Moore,
Logan, Utah

Lance Fatigue, local version
Editor,

For those who are sick of Armstrong, try living in Austin, its so-oooo never ending.

Yawn.

Respectfully,
Paul M. Johnson,
Austin, Texas

FILED UNDER: Mailbag