View Full Version : Levi to Discovery
PolishPostal
07-24-06, 04:52 PM
American Levi Leipheimer returns to the squad from Gerolsteiner, Portugal's Sergio Paulinho arrives from the former Wurth squad, and Lithuanian Tomas Vaitkus arrives from AG2R.
Pizza Man
07-24-06, 04:55 PM
Link?
Are you speculating or do you have inside info on this?
voltman
07-24-06, 04:56 PM
It's been posted somewhere. Try the July 25 thread.
DerekU2
07-24-06, 05:23 PM
You can read about it at Discovery's official website, but you'll need to register (or hit up http://bugmenot.com).
http://www.thepaceline.com/members/staff_report_item.aspx?cid=2586
No ****.
That's a good move for Levi, if true. Can't find it on the site.
Smoothie104
07-24-06, 09:35 PM
There's your Marketing concept made easy.. He's the top Yank after floyd. Will Lance and Disco's training and preperation make him a Tour Winner? They wouldnt have signed him if the didnt think so.
patentcad
07-24-06, 09:38 PM
Oh well. So much for signing Floyd this year eh? I guess Discovery's happy with top 10...
sverrefehn
07-24-06, 09:46 PM
They wanted Floyd, but he extended with Phonak/i-shares today. Clearly, Floyd wants to do it his way.
Snicklefritz
07-24-06, 11:00 PM
I couldn't find anything on the Disco site either. This certainly seems a lot more plausible than some of the other riders that were suggested as the "new sign-on"
a_fire_inside
07-24-06, 11:42 PM
It did happen. For those who are interested and have an account at thepaceline.com, by searching for 'Levi' the top result brings the story.
patentcad
07-25-06, 04:57 AM
I sure hope they pay Floyd the Big Bucks. Anything less than $3 -$4 million a year would be a joke after that preformance. Let's hope Floyd lands a few big commercial endorsements outside the bike weenie world...
I STILL say make the 'Floyd Story' movie starring Kid Rock.
if that's the 'major signing' then someone should explain the meaning of the words to CB.
American Levi Leipheimer returns to the squad from Gerolsteiner, Portugal's Sergio Paulinho arrives from the former Wurth squad, and Lithuanian Tomas Vaitkus arrives from AG2R.
Grasschopper
07-25-06, 05:45 AM
if that's the 'major signing' then someone should explain the meaning of the words to CB.
Eh for Disco that IS major...where did their top rider finish? 19th so that is moving up 6 spots on the GC and a rider that if properly supported could move up even more...not saying he is going to win but I think he is cabable of that with the proper training and support.
it's a pragmatic signing, rather than an inspired one.
with all due respect to LL he's a C-list favorite at best. IMO his bread & butter is really in 7-10 day stage races. he'll get some camera time for Discovery, but that's about it.
i'll be happy to be proven wrong. guess we'll have to wait about 345 days ;)
Eh for Disco that IS major...where did their top rider finish? 19th so that is moving up 6 spots on the GC and a rider that if properly supported could move up even more...not saying he is going to win but I think he is cabable of that with the proper training and support.
patentcad
07-25-06, 06:14 AM
it's a pragmatic signing, rather than an inspired one.
with all due respect to LL he's a C-list favorite at best. IMO his bread & butter is really in 7-10 day stage races. he'll get some camera time for Discovery, but that's about it.
i'll be happy to be proven wrong. guess we'll have to wait about 345 days ;)
Not for nothing, but I strongly feel that Floyd might like J. Brunyeel a whole lot better if JB was directing the troops for Floyd instead of ordering Landis to throw himself under the bus for Lance.
Oh well. We'll never know now. Not next year. If Floyd wants to do it his way, who can argue?
PolishPostal
07-25-06, 06:16 AM
Leipheimer to Discovery
Levi Leipheimer is leaving the Gerolsteiner team at the end of the season, and will sign for Discovery Channel, which is expected to confirm this later today. According to Gerolsteiner's bike sponsor Specialized, Leipheimer called them after the Tour to announce his transfer to the Discovery Channel team, effective January 1, 2007. "My best results, wins at the Tour of Germany and Dauphiné Libéré, happened on my S-Works Tarmac SL, but Discovery (Channel) made me an offer I could not refuse," he was quoted as saying, while further expressing his thanks for Specialized's support.
Gerolsteiner spokesman Mathias Wieland told www.Radsport-Aktiv.de, "We had agreed with Levi that we would sit down together after the Tour and make the decision. Levi wanted to know earlier, and told us that he was having discussions with other teams."
Leipheimer is expected to ride the Deutschland Tour, where he is the defending champion.
xxx
patentcad
07-25-06, 06:23 AM
The most disturbing aspect of this signing is this: didn't Levi's cycling star stock take a big hit in this year's Tour?
• He came unglued on many of the major climbs from the lead group
• He didn't finish in the top 10
• He screwed the pooch on the big opening TT to the tune of 5+ mins. and never recovered
So if you want to WIN big bike races, don't you need somebody like Cadel Evans, etc? I know Levi has put in some stellar performances - but this move leaves me scratching my head. Add to this the fact that Levi is getting long in the tooth for big time stage racing - 34 next year. Go figure.
You never know. Sometimes a change of scenery is all an athlete needs to revive a career. I hope this pans out for Levi and Disco.
So if you want to WIN big bike races, don't you need somebody like Cadel Evans, etc?
Evans is also way over rated. a C+ favorite at best.
He's the King of the Wheelsuckers (Michele - the voice of cycling for Belgian TV - Wuyts statement, not mine).
He's the same as Levi, but with an over inflated opinion of his abilities, and an incredibly irritating voice.
CyLowe97
07-25-06, 06:39 AM
Levi did win the Dauphine Libere this year. That's one more UCI Pro Tour overall stage win than all of Discovery this year.
And he should be strong again in the Tour of Germany as returning champion.
It's not all about the Tour de France, folks.
Cypress
07-25-06, 08:30 AM
So is Trek going to supply carbon fibre walkers and canes for the geriatric disco team?
CyLowe97
07-25-06, 08:53 AM
So is Trek going to supply carbon fibre walkers and canes for the geriatric disco team?
No, but if they are retaining Ekimov for his knowledge, perhaps he can show the young'uns how riding the ProTour until you're 40 can pay off.... Mullets for everyone! You, too, Leipheimer.... :p
Snicklefritz
07-25-06, 09:46 AM
So is Trek going to supply carbon fibre walkers and canes for the geriatric disco team?
lol. :p
patentcad
07-25-06, 11:57 AM
Wait. I am the King of the Wheelsuckers. That title is already taken. Sorry Cadel.
On his level Pope of Wheel Suckage might be more appropriate.
Snicklefritz
07-25-06, 12:38 PM
Wait. I am the King of the Wheelsuckers. That title is already taken. Sorry Cadel.
On his level Pope of Wheel Suckage might be more appropriate.
I think you mean "Patron Saint of Wheelsuckers"
I will pay homage to him, so maybe I can do better in crits.
So is Trek going to supply carbon fibre walkers and canes for the geriatric disco team?
yeah, WTF..they hired a TDF dropout and two other nobodies and make a huge announcement about it?
Leipheimer's forehead is way to big for TT.
Snicklefritz
07-25-06, 12:56 PM
Why would they hire Levi who is getting old instead of putting some money into some younger guys with more potential?
patentcad
07-25-06, 01:07 PM
I think you mean "Patron Saint of Wheelsuckers"
I will pay homage to him, so maybe I can do better in crits.
Thank you. Right.
Hey, Disco has so many older riders they can solicit AARP as a co-sponsor.
I STILL say make the 'Floyd Story' movie starring Kid Rock.
....if Kid Rock loses that 30-pound beer gut and rides about 10 zillion miles to improve his muscle tone.
Guess they could use a body double.:rolleyes:
Psimet2001
07-25-06, 03:21 PM
Why would they hire Levi who is getting old instead of putting some money into some younger guys with more potential?
Because watching "younger guys with more potential" fizzle in every big event gets really boring. If I had a $ for every young talent that never turned themselves into anything then I could probably buy a decent new rig....;)
Choosing Levi follows the same logic that Hollywood uses when it turns out the same re-made crap year over year...sure a new movie concept may win huge, but it can also fail...a proven plot - while never giving the big payoff - will pay for itself and make some profit.
Not to mention that I am sure that Lance's owning company, Tailwind Sports, thinks it is in the team's best interest to have an American leader. It has greater marketing potential for US fans and customers.
I heard/saw/read speculation that they were courting Floyd. That obviously fell through. "NEXT! Oh Levi...you're the next best American? You'll do...."
...would you expect anything less from Disco?
platypus
07-25-06, 04:32 PM
I heard/saw/read speculation that they were courting Floyd. That obviously fell through. "NEXT! Oh Levi...you're the next best American? You'll do...."
Kinda reminds you of the scene at the bar right around last call. "Right, so who's still here then?"
:D
patentcad
07-25-06, 05:12 PM
I think the best American is already on Disco. Tom Danielson. Keep an eye on that guy.
Snicklefritz
07-25-06, 06:04 PM
I think the best American is already on Disco. Tom Danielson. Keep an eye on that guy.
yuck! I like floyd better. But he won't go to Disco.
Besides I thought TD was more of a pure climber who would do better at the Vuelta compared with TdF
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