Disgraced United States cyclist Floyd Landis was in a jovial mood before the Tour of Southland's second stage yesterday.
Landis was stripped of the 2006 Tour de France title after testing positive for performance-enhancing substances and was banned for two years.
He has always maintained his innocence and was happy to talk with the media before the race, as long as the conversation kept away from drugs.
He posed for photographs and was courteous and friendly.
He certainly did not cut a villainous figure, and gave Invercargill's weather the thumbs-up.
"It's beautiful here now," he said, perhaps a bit prematurely, as strong westerlies made for a tough time cycling in the afternoon.
A renowned climber, Landis was looking forward to the short, sharp haul up Bluff Hill.
"I saw it two days ago and it looks like a good one."
Landis is not expected to be among the race's front runners, with his Cyclingnzshop.com-Biosport team not considered strong enough to give him the support he would need to be successful.
He finished the morning's time trial in 46th place, then came 33rd in the afternoon's second stage, finishing 2min 32sec behind the winner, Jack Bauer.
He trails tour leader Heath Blackgrove by 3min.