Lancaster County native Floyd Landis will be returning to professional cycling in January with the domestic Health Net-Maxxis team, Cyclingnews.com reported this morning.
Landis, 32, will be coming off a two-year suspension from the sport. The ban followed a positive doping test from the 2006 Tour de France which Landis won. The unconfirmed report comes at the same time Landis’ former teammate, Lance Armstrong, announced his intention to return to professional cycling in 2009 after a three-year retirement.
“I cannot confirm or deny it,” said Momentum’s sponsorship director, Thierry Attias, told Cyclingnews regarding Landis’ signing. However numerous other sources familiar with the team confirmed that an agreement is in place for a new title sponsor for the team. Sources have said the new sponsor is from the health care industry. This aligns with current speculation that Smith & Nephew, makers of Landis’ artificial hip and sponsor of his mountain bike endurance racing, is a possible title sponsor.
Landis, a Farmersville native and Conestoga Valley High graduate, did not return multiple requests for confirmation. His suspension ends January 30. Previously, Landis was rumored to be considering an offer from Rock Racing. That team’s roster includes former Landis teammate Tyler Hamilton and others who have served suspensions for doping.
