Mar 12, 2006
Landis Wins Paris Nice
Floyd Landis held off Patxi Vila and took his second stage race victory of the year and we aren’t even half way through March. Landis showed some great climbing form that was carried over from his victory in the Tour of California that allowed him to make the key move to St. Etienne. His Phonak squad was able to defend his leader’s jersey with some help from Quick-Step who reeled in breakaways for Torpedo Tom. Then when TT went home because the stage was too hilly, a bunch of attacking Spaniards who were low on GC helped to relieve the pressure.
With performances like this, Landis is getting just enough of a taste being a stage race leader. As a results, he now has to endure the pressure of being called Lance Armstrong’s successor in the Tour de France. Sure, he has a very strong possibility of winning the Tour de France this year with one year as team leader already under his belt. Landis has climbing and time trialing skills and has shown tremendous form in the Tour de France when he paced Armstrong up several climbs. Sure, Landis has the tools and the team, I just wish folks would not slap the “next Armstrong” label. Floyd is Floyd and he is much different from Lance Armstrong.
If Landis does win or perform well in July it will be interesting to see if he gets as much attention as Armstrong has in the last few years. Armstrong trancended the sport because his story was so compelling. Landis doesn’t have as dramatic a story, but he is probably a more universally likeable guy. There aren’t too many Landis-haters out there compared to Lance-haters, but give it time.
Anyway, I just ask for a detante on the “Next Armstrong” label. Please, avoid using the phrase at any cost. Just because a cyclist is from the USA and does well in stage races does not mean he is the “Next Armstrong” Shhesh.