[Plutarch]

By hiring Tyler Hamilton's lawyer, it looks like Floyd is preparing to go to the mat to save his racing career.

Since Phonak is going to throw Floyd under the bus as soon as the B Sample is announced, it will be time for Floyd to pin blame on the deservedly notorious Phonak management.

Here is a pic, showing a Phonak rider being proffered an unmarked substance in a white medicine cup before Stage 14 at the 2006 Giro d'Italia. He appears to be saying: "Here, kid, just take it. It'll make ya go faster."

On the Simply Stu podcast (#38T July 16th), Floyd was interviewed by Allen Lim, during the Tour and remarked about mysterious substances being given to him by Phonak.

Lim: What did you have this morning?

Floyd: An omelette and some rice, and Muesli to make with yogurt. Its hot out, it tastes better than omelette.

And then the race, just some bottles [?] and gels, and some stuff they make, I don't even know I just eat it.

Simply Stu Podcast

Phonak image enlarged

[staytrue]

It looks like Landis was doing well until the disaster where he lost 11 minutes and the coach may have very well understood it was over and gave landis some extra help.

[ncountylee]

the French lab

That's a relief...NOT.

[Jo Nuvark]

I know very little about this, but being that it is France who monitors these tests, and they hate Americans, what's to keep them from tainting the samples?

[nutmeg]

Tour de France ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my Tour de France 2006 list.

[BaBaStooey]

Hired Tyler Hamilton's lawyer. Great, a guy with a proven track record of winning these doping cases. No, wait..

[Penny1]

"...And then the race, just some bottles [?] and gels, and some stuff they make, I don't even know I just eat it."

ruh-roh...

[dl5192]

If you don't think that every one of these guys knows EXACTLY what's going into their bodies, you're crazy. All professional athletes at this level dope.

Floyd's test will come back positive on Saturday and he'll continue to deny. There will be conspiracy theorists who say that it's the French who are out to get Americans. But then how do you explain all of the guys who were linked to the Operation Puerto affair a few months ago? How do you explain the Festina affair in 1998 (a French team)?

Hate to break it to you, but Floyd cheated. Americans are not above cheating in professional and Olympic sports. Marion Jones, Justin Gatlin...the list goes on and on.