By JAMES RAIA
www.byJamesRaia.com

Floyd Landis, the reigning Tour de France titlist, has expressed concerns that his cycling career is in serious jeopardy, according to reports in two Belgian newspapers.

Last Saturday (Dec. 16), Landis was quoted in Het Laatste Nieuws and Gazet van Antwerpen that he will not likely compete during the 2007 season.

"There a minute chance of me racing again in 2007," Landis' quote read in the two newspapers. "Even if I'm not suspended, who will want to sign me?

"And if they suspend me for two or four year — a humiliation which I hope doesn't happen — it's over for me. As things stand now, I don't see myself as a bike racer."

Landis, 31, is hoping but is not optimistic he will be cleared by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) next month when his hearing against doping chargers is expected to occur.

En route to his dramatic victory in the 2006 Tour de France, Landis won the 17th stage with a long, solo breakaway. But Landis' urine test following the stage was announced positive for a high ratio of testosterone-epitestosterone.

Landis argues that there were errors by the Châtenay-Malabry (France) testing lab.

"I've never taken testosterone, I would have been stupid to because you just can't get away with it (in doping tests)," Landis said, according to quotes in the Belgian dailies. "What it comes down to is that I'm being accused of stupidity more than doping. Even if I'm proved innocent, my reputation is still ruined."

Tour de France organizers now consider then runnerup Oscar Pereiro of Spain the winner of the 2006 edition. But race organizers are waiting for the official processes to take place before they stripe the American of his title.

Ironically, Landis was recently deemed ready to compete in the 2007 season, according to the cyclist's publicist Michael Henson.

Landis, the defending Tour of California titlist, wasn't mentioned during the race's recent 2007 presentation in Sacramento. But when asked about his potential participation in the race, Henson said Landis hadn't been contacted by race organizers, but that he would consider and conceivably could be prepared to compete if the opportunity arose.

Landis' win in the inuaugural event last February occurred when he was captain of Team Phonak. The team has since disbanded. The 2007 Tour of California will be held Feb. 18-25.

To read more of James Raia's cycling articles or to sign-up for his free electronic newsletter, Tour de Sport, visit his web site, www.ByJamesRaia.com