updated 7:50 p.m. ET Aug. 12, 2007

LEADVILLE, Colo. - Shorts torn and blood covering his right leg from hip to ankle, Floyd Landis lumbered across the finish line almost in slow motion.

He paused for a moment to check on his wounds, grabbed a sip of water, then weaved through traffic and headed uphill through a neighborhood. Five blocks later, Landis arrived at a white house with blue trim, parked his bike and went inside, where he grabbed a much-needed beer and tended to his injuries.

The altitude of the Rocky Mountains had taken much of his strength and the gravel path big chunks of his skin, but Landis was at ease with his second-place finish at the Leadville Trail 100 on Saturday. After what he’s been through over the past year, the embattled Tour de France champion was happy to have his mind someplace else, even just for a few hours.

“This race was good because it was something to train for and I could focus on that,” said Landis, sitting on a green couch inside the rental house during a one-on-one interview with the Associated Press. “I couldn’t completely forget about the other stuff, but at least was something to focus on. When there’s nothing going on, I just end up thinking about things.”

He’s had a lot to think about.

Landis won the 2006 Tour de France, then had his victory cast into doubt when he tested positive for synthetic testosterone. He has vehemently denied doping despite positive tests on two samples, outlining his defense in detail in his recently-released book, “Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour De France.”

Landis also underwent hip replacement surgery in September and participated in an often-bizarre arbitration hearing in May that will determine whether he gets to retain his Tour title. He returned to racing in June at the Tevas Games just up the road in Vail and rode twice more in Colorado before the Leadville race.

Four-time defending champion Dave Wiens of Gunnison set the pace early at Leadville and Landis was right with him despite crashing on downhill about an hour into the race. Landis nearly caught Wiens after a flat tire just past the halfway point, but used up all his energy and finished 1 minute, 43 seconds behind Wiens’ course record of 6 hours, 58 minutes, 47 seconds.

“I chased too hard after the flat,” said Landis, bandages on three fingertips and blood-soaked gauze from just above the knee to his ankle. “He probably was going to win anyway, even without the flat. He’s in great shape.”

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Now Landis gets to wait some more. He still hasn’t heard word on when the arbitration panel will make its ruling and has yet to schedule future races because of the uncertainty.

Landis said he doesn’t mind that the arbitration panel is trying to get the decision right by going over the science and basis of the testing; he just wants to have some kind of timetable for a decision — one way or another — so he can get on with his life.

“It’s been three months since the hearing and I haven’t heard a word — nothing at all,” Landis said. “If they’re going to do it right and they’re going to take their time, that’s fine, I don’t mind. I just don’t know what the time frame is. It would make it a lot more simple if they just said ’it’ll be next January.’ That’d be fine.”

Landis arrived in this dusty mining town several weeks ago, ramping up his training a little early after becoming frustrated with the Tour de France. The disenchantment didn’t come from the doping allegations preventing him from defending his title, though. It was because of the scandals that continue to plague the Tour.

Several riders, including leader Michael Rasmussen, were kicked out of the Tour because of doping issues, casting the future of the race in doubt — unless it makes some changes.

“You’ve got all of the organizations and none of them talk to each other,” Landis said. “They just go straight to the press. Fine, whatever, I’m not saying they should try to hide it, but the fans have no idea what to make of it. It’s just chaos. If they’ve got a problem, they should just get together and talk to each other first.”

So far, Landis hasn’t seen signs that the scandals have permanently hurt the sport.

He was swarmed at the start of the Leadville race by fans wanting autographs, pictures or just to thank him for supporting Colorado. Landis received similar greetings during a 10-day book tour last month and greeted all the well-wishers with that same warmhearted smile he’s always had — despite everything that’s going on.

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“Whether people think I’m innocent or guilty, they all agree that this system doesn’t work,” Landis said. “It’s been a year and a month and there’s not even a decision. That doesn’t make any sense. Even if they think I’m guilty, they have to believe that sooner or later an innocent person’s going to come along and get (hurt).”

At least Landis has had some good news lately: his book is selling well.

Facing potential financial problems just a few months ago, Landis was able to pay attorney fees with advance money from the book and hasn’t yet started looking at life after racing. Of course, he’s still waiting for that decision that could change everything.

“Everything is unknown, when it’s going to happen, what it’s going to be, there’s just no indication. I’m not used to that,” Landis said. “I like to have a goal, I like to have something to work toward. I don’t have that and that part is making me crazy.

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