LAST MINUTE PANIC FOR LANDIS

Moments before his 16:03 start time, Floyd Landis? concentration was shattered. His mechanic was wiping the rear wheel one last time before departure when he noticed a cut in the tyre. It was big enough to cause instant concern. The mechanic shouted to John Lelangue, the Phonak team manager, who was preparing to drive behind Landis on the course.

Lelangue picks up the story: ?I got out, saw the size of the cut and immediately instructed the mechanic to change the rear wheel. He could have ridden round with nothing going wrong but it was a big enough cut to make me worry it could blow on a corner. If that happened the Tour could be over. Changing the wheel would lose only a few seconds. We estimate he lost maybe eight seconds in total.?

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Sports journalist Lionel Birnie has written professionally for Sunday Times, Procycling and of course Cycling Weekly. He is also an author, publisher, and co-founder of The Cycling Podcast. His first experience covering the Tour de France came in 1999, and he has presented The Cycling Podcast with Richard Moore and Daniel Friebe since 2013. He founded Peloton Publishing in 2010 and has ghostwritten and published the autobiography of Sean Kelly, as well as a number of other sports icons.