Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France

by Floyd Landis
Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France
book data
69 ratings, 3.80 average rating, 28 reviews (more data...)
edit

published
June 26th 2007 by Simon Spotlight Entertainment

binding
Hardcover, 320 pages

isbn
1416950230   (isbn13: 9781416950233)

description
THE SERIES OF EVENTS surrounding Floyd Landis's 2006 Tour de France was as improbable as anything in the history of sports: He showed up nine seconds ...more






Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.







There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

friend reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists. Add this book to your favorite list »

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 87)



Mark
Mark rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
09/13/08

Read in September, 2008
recommends it for: Anyone interested in cycling, anti-doping, or athletics in general
I'm an avid follower of the literature on Lance Armstrong and his battle to prove that doping never played a role in his Tour de France vitories. While reading "Lance Armstrong's War" by Daniel Coyle, I was formally introduced to the character of Floyd Landis and instantly found common ground in his early passion for mountain biking. Equally fascinating was his Mennonite upbringing in Pennsylvania and his struggle to become part of the larger world while still respecting his backgrou...more
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Wendy
Wendy rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
01/26/08

Read in January, 2008
From 2000 to 2006, I used to watch as much Tour de France television coverage as possible. During the month of July, I would wake up at 4:30 in the morning to watch live coverage of the important stage races before going to work. In 2006, Floyd was such a great story. Mennonite kid that helped Lance win big with the USPS team; he leaves and gets to lead his own team. oh by the way, he had a degenerative condition in his hip and still logged 20,000 miles a year on it. In '06, Floyd fell apar...more
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Don
Don rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
07/30/08

This is an interesting look at the world of professional cycling and the Tour de France in particular. Landis tells us about his Mennonite upbringing (didn't know that!) and how he got into pro cycling. The bulk of the book, of course, deals with the Tour and with the allegations of doping that ultimately stripped him of the win. Based on what Landis says and the evidence put forth, it's hard to believe he got a fair deal or that he was guilty. However, the book was interesting, with an amount o...more
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Karen
Karen rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
09/07/07

Read in September, 2007
This was a quick, interesting read telling the story of 2006 Tour de France winner, Floyd Landis. It was quite eye opening regarding the practices of the World Anti Doping Association (WADA) and US Anti Doping Agency (USADA), both of which operate completely on their own. They answer to no one and have no system of checks and balances to see that justice is actually carried out for athletes that they accuse of cheating.

I'm on Floyd's side. I believe the evidence is in his favor. I hope h...more
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Marlene
Marlene rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
07/07/08

bookshelves: 2008
Read in June, 2008
recommended to Marlene by: Nathan Miller
recommends it for: Alan Ediger
I read this book because I'm related to Floyd (okay, he's like my third cousin and I've never met the guy but it's still kind of cool to say I'm related to him). I learned a lot about the world of cycling. I also learned that you have to have a certain attitude to get far in cycling. Floyd's positive doping test is unfortunate and I feel for him and his family for having to go through such an ordeal. I can't imagine the amount of energy Floyd and his team used to fight the positive test resu...more
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Sharilee
Sharilee rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
08/30/08

I don't normally read novels, and I'm not really a big fan of cycling. However, I read this book at a time when I had also been 'falsely accused' and that made the book very meaningful to me.

Overall I enjoyed the book very much and highly recommend it. While it isn't one I would read again (just because once you've read it, you've read it), I'm glad that I read it when I did. It was a healing experience for me.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Dana
Dana rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
09/16/07

Read in August, 2007
I am a big cycling dork, so I loved this book. Especially because I watch the Tour every year and was intrigued by Floyd and his performance. This is of course his bias of the situation, but gives a lot of his history and lots of background info about what happened. My wonderful boyfriend bought this for me while I was in the hospital, which is also when the Tour started.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Jess
Jess rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
01/20/08

bookshelves: 2007-book-list, cycling
recommended to Jess by: I met Floyd at a bookstore and bought it
He's innocent. He's guilty. No matter what you think, this book is an eye opening read. Landis presents a strong case on why the current system needs a complete overhaul. The information on USADA was especially interesting. I don't think we'll ever truly find out if he did it or not, but after reading his account, I do believe things need to change.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

CJ
CJ rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
04/20/08

bookshelves: 2008-books
Read in April, 2008
I've always believed that Floyd Landis was innocent of all the doping charges against him. He states that what you see is what you get with him - and that's the feeling I've had since I started following him when he rode with Lance Armstrong.

After reading his book, I feel the same way. He's innocent and WADA and USADA have a lot to answer for.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Lynda
Lynda rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
09/09/08

bookshelves: non-fiction, real-life-stories
Read in September, 2008
not quite finished with this book yet, but getting to the guts of trying to fight the doping charges from a lab that made many errors in procedure/reporting/ etc. Makes me really question the anti-doping labs and the fact that the French were not happy with Americans winning the tour...
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Bob
Bob rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
07/12/07

Read in July, 2007
aiight floyd--whatcha got to say for yerself? huh? ya got a huge sack is that what yer sayin'? that's where all yer man juice came from in stage 17? ya sure?

the jury's still out fer me. but that li'l sex trick he pulled on greg lemond was low. but i'd drink beer wif floyd fo' sho'!!!
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Davehk
Davehk rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/03/08

bookshelves: admirable-people-doing-admirable-th
Read in May, 2008
I met Arnie Baker; and I went through the presentation on the Internet Tubes about the findings.

Think of WADA as an irredeemably corrupt and impressively incompetent IOC and you're most of the way there.

This is a pretty compelling first person. Love the technical details.
Like this review?   yes  
  1 comment

Clive
Clive rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
08/10/08

I want to believe Floyd Landis more than I want to believe anything. I love his approach to life, and his lack of haughtiness. I'm not sure if he was a victim of a bad testing protocol or his desperation. I hope he eventually comes back to the sport.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Caitlin
Caitlin rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
06/06/08

Read in August, 2007
How did a man brought up as a Mennonite become a foul mouthed materialistic cyclist who cheated? You won't find the answer here, just excuses, and a revisionist attitude towards his upbringing.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Lyn
Lyn rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/24/07

Read in August, 2007
It is fascinating reading this book to learn about what goes on with the athletes during the Tour de France.
I believe Floyd is inocent and I applaud his efforts to help others falsely accused.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Tiff
Tiff rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/04/08

Read in January, 2007
This book opens your eyes to what really goes on with pro racers. I really believed his story. I feel bad that in the end (in real life) he was actually accused of cheating.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Mike
Mike rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/20/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in February, 2008
It was a pretty fast read until he got bogged down in the scandal part. Some fun history and stories about the Tour de France and his rise as a professional rider.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Chris
Chris rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
08/25/07

bookshelves: cycling
Not sure whether he's guilty or not, but after reading this book, I do have a reasonable doubt. All cycling fans should read this and decide for themselves.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Anne
Anne rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
09/28/07

Read in September, 2007
Amazing life story of a dedicated bicyclist. I admire his courage and drive to prove his innocence when charged with doping during the Tour de France.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Katey
Katey rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
08/11/07

Read in August, 2007
Surprisingly well-written book. I really enjoyed reading it, and it made a great book for a plane trip.

PS: I do think that Landis is innocent.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment


« previous 1 3 4 5