Let's talk about the Tour. In 2005, you were on the podium, and you had sharp words for your critics about the doping issue. I'm paraphrasing, but it was something like "To the cynics and skeptics out there, I feel sorry for you. You don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes." After what happened at the 2006 race, why should Americans not be cynics and skeptics?
Yeah, that faith would be tested. You've got Puerto and Floyd.

Well, let's start with Operation Puerto, the scandal involving a Spanish doctor who allegedly supplied drugs to dozens of pro riders, including Tour favorites Ivan Basso and Jan Ullrich, who were subsequently barred from the 2006 Tour.

Q. Do you think Floyd Landis is innocent? A. I do. I hope he starts the Tour de France in yellow next year, with number one on his back. I'm saying that right up front.

Puerto really took me by surprise. As long as I've been cycling, I did not expect to see that. To take out the second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-place riders from the previous year is devastating. But with Puerto, I'm still waiting. What's coming out of that? What are they waiting for? With Floyd [Landis], I'm even less certain, because that whole thing was fishy. One day his test is not positive. The next day, positive. The next day, not . . . all this from the French lab, which, obviously, I have no trust in.

What did you say when you talked to Floyd after the allegation came out that he used testosterone prior to Stage 17?
He's mad, you know? But he was doing this press conference and he had his hat on backwards. I said, "Floyd, come on, let's take the hat off." It's about credibility. The way you look and talk and conduct yourself, fortunately or unfortunately, is important.

What did you say to him about the specific charge?
I'm like, "Did you do it?" "No." I said, "Then get up there and look and act like you didn't do it. Because right now that's all you've got. The other process will take forever to play out." Listen, I hope the guy starts in yellow next year with number one on his back. I'm saying that right up front.

So you believe he's innocent?
Yeah, I do. The sequence of the way it played out. The lab. I don't know why someone would take testosterone that one day. I don't know how that would work.

I just wonder what you think about all the scandals, because you have this unbelievable legacy of seven straight Tour victories. But that legacy gets damaged if the sport is always under a cloud.
I don't spend a lot of time thinking about that. I look around and I see my seven cups—and no one is coming to take them, because they represent hundreds of controls, federal investigations, lawsuits, all the stuff that I've lived through. They are not going anywhere, these seven. My focus outside of cycling is not affected either. When I walk into a hospital, do you think patients care what happened in Operation Puerto? No. It has no effect. I do care, because I'm a fan. I'm a team owner. But more of the day will be invested in thinking about the stuff I'm doing now.

Speaking of now, are you starting to regret the fact that you decided to run the New York City Marathon?
[Laughs] When is this out?

About five days after the race. What do you think we'll be reading in the headlines?
We'll see how it goes. I miss being on the bike.

Do you train like you did on the bike?
No. I just run. I check my pace now and then, but am I on the 20-week plan, the 16-week plan? No, I'm on the I-drink-beer-and-I'm-doing-a-marathon plan. I hope I don't crawl.

You'll be content to be just an average runner?
Yeah.

So the fact that French cyclist Laurent Jalabert once ran the New York City Marathon in 2:55 means nothing?
I don't care. I don't care. [Pause] I'd still beat him up Alpe d'Huez.