"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - What is Levi's plan?

OK, so what's going on with Levi in 2006? He did well in the TDC, except for the disappointment in the ITT, and since then I haven't heard anything. Is he quietly preparing for the Tour without even a race to test his condition? Does this sound a good plan to anyone? What would be the point? To get off everyone's radar? To get in the best form ever, without letting anyone know, so he can launch a real surprise attack? But if he's serious, a strong result in the prologue will put him right back on the radar, as will the 52km ITT in Stage 7. The first mountain stage is not until stage 10, but even it has 44k of downhill before the finish, so not a good one to plan some huge breakaway. And he's already taken seriously enough to not be given too much leeway, so I don't see the point of trying to keep his form a secret. I suppose he could try to keep it low key until Stage 11 (Pla-de-beret), and then really kick it on the first mountain top finish before anyone realizes what's going on (assuming he's strong enough to take some serious time out of Basso et. al.). What else could his plan be? Even his website lists no races until the Tour. No Dauphine. No Tour de Suisse. Nada. I don't get it.

Levi has been at home in northern cal. He has shown up to several local races. People were teasing him about "sandbagging"...

It does seem strange that he isn't doing any real races until the Tour. I'd love to hear other peoples' take on this. Meanwhile since I live in northern cal and train in some of the same areas as him...wel I will carry around a bottle of Gerolsteiner in the car so I can get his autograph if I run into him,.

Levi has been at home in northern cal. He has shown up to several local races. People were teasing him about "sandbagging"...

It does seem strange that he isn't doing any real races until the Tour...

I think he realized how good the NorCal races are and is set on the Pro 1/2 BAR instead of some stupid french race :)

He's been at TOC, Sea Otter, Copperopolis and Wente so far. These are all good training races, the fact that he didn't win Sea Otter shows he's got some decent competition to check form against. I would disagree that he hasn't done any "real" races, there are some very good US pros he's racing against, without having to deal with a 200 rider field where people are crashing right and left. 31 times up the hill at Laguna isn't playing Scrabble, nor is 5x up the hill at Copperopolis with Ben JM chasing you.

My theory would be his plan is: stay home, stay comfortable, stay healthy, eat well, and build that base up. My guess is he'll hit a race or two before the TDF to get acclimated back to Europe.

He better had..

He was sick for awhile, pretty badly from an ability to race perspective. When he raced at Sea Otter he was just coming off being sick.

I think he's supposed to be back in health now. I agree with Vino, he'll hit one or two european races before the tour.

From what I saw of Sea Otter it didn't seem as though Levi's goal was to win as much as to get in a good ride.

He was sick for awhile, pretty badly from an ability to race perspective. When he raced at Sea Otter he was just coming off being sick.

I think he's supposed to be back in health now. I agree with Vino, he'll hit one or two european races before the tour.

After the ToC he went to Europe and got sick, returned home to be comfortable and get better. I think he's better now and hopefully we will see him in a couple of races b4 TDF.

I won't argue with Sea Otter being a tough race...what I meant by "real" was really the sort of thing where he would be competing against his chief rivals in the TdF...to see where he would stack up against the competition

I'm guessing that right about now, he's planning on getting his a__ kicked by the BARBER! Right, 2Rodies?

I'm guessing that right about now, he's planning on getting his a__ kicked by the BARBER! Right, 2Rodies?


Much like last year, Levi will be showing a clean set of wheels to Floyd "Dale Jr" Landis in the races that matter in June and July. Somewhere around this time Veloduo will also be buying me a case of the beer of my choice and crying in his beer as Floyd gets crushed by LL!!!!