By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Chicago
While the organisers of the Tour of Elk Grove did not want Floyd Landis to attend their race in Chicago last weekend, Landis' coach Robbie Ventura honoured his invitation to have Landis appear at the opening of his company's new training facility on the north side Bucktown neighbourhood of Chicago. The event at VisionQuest, Chicago packed in a VIP crowd to hear some of Ventura's top athletes speak including Landis, Dave Zabriskie and two triathletes.
The obviously pro-Floyd crowd gave Landis a standing ovation. While the subject of Landis' ongoing doping investigation was of course off-limits, Landis answered many questions about the stages of the Tour, along with the comedic commentary from the now well-known dry wit of Zabriskie. Landis was relaxed and comfortable on the stage, happy to be asked about the actual racing of the Tour and not the doping investigation, cracking jokes with Zabriskie.
In between video clips of his athletes, Ventura showed off the facility's Computrainer set-up with eighteen stations all wired together, the largest in the U.S. After the presentations, Landis and the other athletes stayed and signed every autograph from the crowd.
Cyclingnews' coverage of the Floyd Landis case
September 28, 2008 - Landis takes case to US federal court
September 10, 2008 - Landis signing with current Health Net-Maxxis team for 2009
July 1, 2008 - CAS delivers final blow to Landis legal challenge
June 30, 2008 - Landis loses final appeal
June 28, 2008 - Landis decision due Monday
March 12, 2008 - Landis' judgment day nears
October 21, 2007 - Landis files appeal with CAS
October 18, 2007 - AFLD takes another look at Landis case
Thursday, October 11 - Landis continues fight, appeals to CAS
Saturday, September 22 - UCI officially names Pereiro 2006 Tour champion, Landis case raises issues
Friday, September 21 - Landis' appeal denied, two year suspension levied
Cyclingnews' complete coverage of the Floyd Landis case
