LEADVILLE, Colo. (BRAIN) — Former pro cyclist Floyd Landis is using some of the proceeds from his settlement with Lance Armstrong to fund a new pro road cycling team. The team will be called Floyd's of Leadville Pro Cycling Team and will be registered in Canada. It will be managed by one of Landis' former teammates, Gord Fraser and will seek a UCI Pro Continental license.
In an interview with BRAIN last month, Landis said he was funding the team in part as redemption following his doping scandal, which led to the stripping of his 2006 Tour de France title. Landis later was involved with a federal whistle-blower lawsuit against Armstrong, which was settled this spring with Landis set to receive about $1.1 million from Armstrong.
"It matter to me that people think (the suit) was about the money," he told BRAIN. "I do like the sport, and what went on back then is part of the reason it is at a low point now. I can't fix it, but I can help. There are teams going away so I can help that," he said.
Landis was referring to the dissolution of two long-standing U.S.-based pro teams, Jelly Belly-Maxxis and UnitedHealthcare.
"I understand I hurt the cycling community," Landis said in a statement Thursday. "Now I'd like to take all proceeds I made from the settlement and put it back where it belongs, on the development of aspiring pro cyclists."
Landis said that after legal fees, he expects to receive less than $1 million from the settlement.
