WASHINGTON -- The Washington area has a vibrant cycling community that follows the Tour de France, and while Floyd Landis asks for patience and the benefit of the doubt following a test revealing high levels of testosterone, local cycling enthusiasts appear to be divided in their sympathy for him.

Cyclist Dave Shuman said he has been betrayed by sports too many times.

"Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro," he said. "You just look at all the athletes; they're all getting an advantage somehow."

He said he thinks Floyd Landis is just another guy trying to get the competitive edge.

At Haines Point Friday afternoon, Landis' accomplishments and troubles were on cyclists' mind. Many hope he's proven not guilty.

"You're innocent until proven guilty, and I think some people jump to conclusions," said John Gerner.

Landis has appealed to the public's open mind and to their sense of fairness and justice. But the Tour de France has had its share of doping issues, and sports in general have become riddled with drug-enhancement scandals. And that has led to a lot of cynicism.

"For some, they might think it's a difference between actually being able to compete at all and being able to at the premier level," said Stuart Horton.

"I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I actually think it's likely that they're all using some sort of performance-enhancing drugs," said Cecelia Stephens.

For Shuman, even a clean test won't clear the air.

"Some of them are better at sneaking it through than others," he said.

Landis' hometown of Ephrata, Pa., is putting his homecoming parade on hold until the issue is settled.