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Road race cycling at the Beijing Olympics ended on Wednesday and now it’s time for one of the coolest and most unheralded cycling disciplines — track cycling.

The Laoshan Velodrome at the Beijing Olympics

Held on the Laoshan Velodrome, track cycling features 10 events, seven for men and three for women on the indoor banked track.

As one of the oldest Olympic sports, track cycling is extraordinarily popular Japan, France, Italy and Australia, but it’s a niche sport in the United States.

I’ve attended the World Track Cycling Champions several times, including both occasions it was held in the United States in my lifetime, 1986 in Colorado Springs, Colo., and in 2006 in Carson, Calif.

It’s amazing to me that track cycling isn’t more popular in the United States. Like NASCAR, it involves athletes performing at high speeds. There are crashes and intense moments of energy. And unlike NASCAR, it’s hard to miss the body language in track cycling. It’s really cool, so check it out beginning Friday.

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Two of the most controversial riders in recent American cycling history could compete together on the same team in 2009.

Tyler Hamilton, who’s about to lose his status as the reigning Olympic time gold medalist, and Floyd Landis, the dethroned winner of the 2006 Tour de France, could both ride for the controversial Rock Racing team next season.

Floyd Landis

Landis can compete after January 30, 2009. That’s when his two-year suspension for an abnormal testosterone ratio ends.

Hamilton, who also served a two-year suspension for the presence of foreign blood in his system, got the rumor of the two riders competing started during an interview last week with the Belgian publication, HLN.

“Floyd is welcome to join us immediately,” Hamilton said. “I know what he is going through, we can help him return to the top.”

Hamilton returned to pro racing at beginning of the 2007 season for a short, unsatisfying stint with the Russian squad, Tinkov. He then moved to Rock Racing in 2008. It’s owned and operated by Michael Ball, the founder of the high-end jeans manufacturer, Rock & Republic.

Rock Racing’s image has attracted a loyale following. Its team colors are green and black, its logo is a skull with wings and its team cars are Cadillac Escalades. The team is tantamount to cycling’s version of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League.

Hamilton, a former Tour de France stage winner who finished as high as fourth in cycling’s premier event, claimed his first stage race victory in four years in July at China’s Tour of Qinghai Lake. He recently signed a new two-year contract with Rock Racing.

Rock Racing's team logo

Hamilton’s statement in the publication triggered substantial media interest.

Landis hasn’t commented, but Ball released a statement:

“At this juncture, I have not made any decisions regarding the 2009 Rock Racing roster,” said Ball. “If, or when, Floyd Landis returns to racing, I hope people recognize that he has served his time and should be given the opportunity to showcase the talent that made him one of the world’s top bike racers. He has a right to continue to make a living in his chosen profession.”

In addition to Hamilton, the Rock Racing squad includes Oscar Sevilla of Spain, Santiago Botero and Victor Hugo Pena of Columbia and American Fred Rodriguez, the three-time national pro road titlist.

Landis has not competed on the road since his victory and subsequent disqualification from the 2006 Tour de France. Landis has competed in several mountain bike events, including a second-place finish in the 2007 Leadville 100.

For my cycling articles, you may also be interested in: byjamesraia.com

Welcome to SportsPageFair.com. As a sportswriter for more than 30 years, I contribute articles to myriad print and online publications and news organizations — The Associated Press to PGA Tour Partners (the national magazine of the PGA Tour) and the Sacramento Bee, a regional daily newspaper in the capital of California, to Reuters, the international news service.

Author of SportsPageFair.com

I’m particularly fond of endurance sports. I’ve reported on cycling for more than 25 years. I’ve attended the Tour de France start to finish 10 times, and in 2005 I co-wrote Tour de France For Dummies with renowned international broadcaster Phil Liggett.

I like endurance sports in part because I’m endurance sports participant; I’ve completed more than 80 marathons and ultramarathons.

Golf is also among my favorite sports. With rare exception, the pro men and women I’ve interviewed and reported on through the years are cordial, articulate athletes. And it’s easy to like the location of most golf tournaments.

During my career, I’ve also covered the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League baseball, tennis and boxing. And in more than a dozen countries, I’ve written about the full spectrum of niche sports followed by passionate fans — cross country skiing to motorcycle racing, rowing to triathlon.

I’ve interviewed Julius Irving about his golf game and Lance Armstrong about running. I’ve never met anyone nicer than the great Norwegian runner Grete Waitz. Three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond has been extraordinarily friendly to me (and to lots of other journalists) through the years.

With SportsPageFair.com, I look forward to commenting on the global sporting scene. Your comments are encouraged.