Foam Board Signs for Floyd

(AP Photo/Francis Specker)

The AP reports that the locals believe Floyd and have rallied support for him. Reading this backgrounder on Floyd, you can see why.

"If they are lucky enough to be on their bikes when he comes along, they might end up riding a few miles with the man himself. "He'll tie in with anybody," says Matt Barringer of I.E. Bikes in Murrieta, Landis' hometown bike shop. "You'll be going along at a comfortable pace, talking, but then when he gets to a hill, he'll say goodbye and tell you he's got to hit the hill hard." Floyd's a pro that rides with the locals and expect that support to continue through this long struggle.

You'll find much less support from sports writers and Gwen Knapp writes about even sadder cycling tales.