The International Cycling Union, the sport's governing body, refused to issue Phonak a racing license for 2005 because of the team's doping record. Three Phonak riders - Hamilton, Oscar Camenzind and Santi Perez - were all found guilty of doping violations in 2004 and fired. The team was only allowed to race after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled last year that Phonak should have a two-year license.

Andy Ris, who prefers sunny weather and is the owner of Phonak (a Swiss hearing-aid manufacturer) hears without any aid at all, when it comes to damage done to his brand.

"Think hard before you get involved in cycling, because there are never any guarantees when it comes to doping. Where there's money, there's doping."

Phonak Too late to think hard, Andy. Only time to duck quickly. Landis, who may or may not have been using illegal substances and may or may not have even known he was enhanced, has been universally dropped like the hottest of potatoes. Suddenly, his upcoming hip-replacement operation is compared to Armstrong’s victory over cancer, as though he was attempting to emulate Lance. Equally abruptly, his doggedness and up and down career—a matter of some celebration and presumed ‘proof’ of clean competition—is disparaged, along with other aspects of his rise.

Others in the sport, the guys you peddle against, are pretty good references when it comes to who might be capable of competing unfairly. In that regard (not that it matters in the long run) Landis has the respect of his competitors.

It would be a tragedy, if only the world gave a damn. But Floyd Landis will be yesterday’s news in an eyewink, a mere footnote to the miserable decline of a once-famous and once-honored French bicycle race.

The Tour de Syringe is on its way out.

The Masters golf tournament could hardly survive if, just prior to tee-time, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson were all ushered off the course and banned for hitting the long-ball under the influence. Yet just prior to the Tour de France, favorites Ivan Basso, Jan Ullrich and Oscar Sevilla, along with manager Rudy Pevenage were all suspended by T-Mobile on doping charges. With Roberto Heras riding out a two-year ban after winning the Tour Spain in February, the winners of three of cycling's major Tours are banned or facing bans.