Disgraced cyclist Landis leaves Oregon event before finishing the final stage

Landis quietly leaves Oregon cycling event

BEND, Ore. — While Lance Armstrong celebrated riding in his final Tour de France, disgraced former winner Floyd Landis quietly ducked out of a race in central Oregon.

Landis was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping and admitted this spring to using drugs to gain a competitive edge. The admission spurred a federal investigation of possible fraud and doping charges against Armstrong and his associates.

Armstrong has denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

Landis reiterated his claims on a network news show aired this week. At the same time, he was riding in the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend.

But Landis was a no-show for Sunday’s final stage of the event.