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Well Hincapie won it. Three words, What a Gift. Like no offense to Hincapie but Levi gave just enough on the climbs to keep Hincapie up there with him but not to drop him. I guess it's team politics and all but still... Anyways great race overall, good job to Greenville, NC and USA Cycling.
PS Where did Badjadeli (sp?) come from!?! What a Voeckler like performance
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How do you know Levi let him take the win? I don't ask that to defend George or to be argumentative, just an honest question as I'm new to this sport and the riders.
It was in Greenville, SC by the way, not NC.
Badjadali has been a top domestic pro in the US for a while now. Definitely not coming out of left field by any means.
How do you know Levi let him take the win? I don't ask that to defend George or to be argumentative, just an honest question as I'm new to this sport and the riders.
It was in Greenville, SC by the way, not NC.
No problem with the question at all. I was kind of fired up at the time of posting anyways and in hindsight the move seems pretty elementary. Levi showed early on that he had some major power on the field especially over the climb. Anyways on the last ascent and the ensuing decent into the circuits he did just enough work to make the group hurt without hurting George. He pretty much whittled away (sp?) the field until he and George were left. After that point Levi and George talked alot (I'm assuming about the finish and how it would be contested) on the way in to the finish and from Levi's perspective it would be the smart thing to do to give Hincapie the jersey as A) Hincapie had a iffy season with alot of seconds before the Eneco tour B) Hincapie got screwed out of the overall at the Eneco tour (not inviting flamers here just imho) C) Hincapie will be riding in support of Levi next year in the Tour because Levi will be moving to Discovery Channel in the off season. So anyways that's just my collected assumptions on the matter nothing concrete just my opinion. Anyways I hope I answered your question.
Note: Don't follow US Domestic that much so that explains not konwing the other guy in the breaks.
If it was in Greenville, NC, all the riders would have been too drunk to finish.
I went to the race today. It was great. First real pro race I have been to. It did kind of seem like Levi let George take it. Everyone was pulling for George because he lives in Greenville. The whole race Levi was killing it but never pulled away from the lead group. Then George had all the gas left, and in the last half a mile george turned it on and it looked like Levi did not really care to much. So I dont know but it was a great time and a lot of good people working it. Makes me feel like going out and doing a quick 100 miler.
Should be even better next year.
kyle
I was wondering why you put "Spoiler" in the title.
Is that for the people who plan to watch the race on TV tonight?:D
I was at the race as well. Didnt see the finish, as I was in Cleveland park, just past the feed zone. Both George and Levi looked pretty strong all the way. Will post my better pics when I get back to work on Tues. Have a great Labor Day.
By the way, does anyone know what times they were posting for the Paris Mtn climb? I want to see how I compare.
if there was any proof that levi was working for hincapie today, this is it:
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/561/thescandalgu3.jpg
in all seriousness, it was pretty obvious Levi was pulling the work for George today. First over the climb on a 5 lap+ race? And It didn't look like he was slacking it either. On at least 2 of the climbs up Paris, it was Levi leading the group. When they came onto the circuit, it looked like Levi, George, and I think Badjadali. That was the perfect setup for Hincapie; be in the break with the other strongest rider in the field who spent all day leading out the climbs, and only one other rider.
I didn't mind it though, it made for some good pictures, and a good indication of next season.
Saul Raisin was there too, and he was really receptive to the fans. Came out of the VIP area and mingled for a bit with everybody. He seemed great.
Other Pics:
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/9235/3toalinetz3.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/8788/edwardmunchko9.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2616/leviafterthebreakib7.jpg
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/5282/levileadsagainfk2.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/182/mccartneybi8.jpg
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/2091/onamerckxnm2.jpg
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/8879/overthetopgs4.jpg
This was pretty cool to see:
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/8834/meetingofthemindslw5.jpg
And this was the hottest thing ever:
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/4280/ownershipau6.jpg
I was wondering why you put "Spoiler" in the title.
Is that for the people who plan to watch the race on TV tonight?:D
My bad, after the whole deal with Tour threads the last couple of years I figure you can't be too safe. haha:p .
2oz that's a classic picture there. Has Ekimov's hair always been like that?
*edit* to answer the question about Paris Mt. climb time I think that they did it fastest at about 9'30 if I'm not mistaken
the fastest time of the day for the climb was 8:56 which was the first time up for Levi, and the George did it right at 9 on the last loop.
Just read on Velonews.com that only 30 riders finished the race (out of 106 that started). Just curious as to why so many riders abandoned the race. Was it the heat? Humidity? Difficult course? As a graduate of the University of South Carolina, I know summers in South Carolina can be a killer.
GB
the reason why only 30 finished was because if you were behind by around 5 minutes at the start you were cut from the race because they couldnt hold up traffic because of the guys riding on pretty busyroads. So pretty much after about 60 miles there were only 30 guys left. But it would have caused huge traffic problems to have all of those roads blocked off.
Here are some pics from todays race:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/bhmmrtn/Stuff/SG1S0332.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/bhmmrtn/Stuff/SG1S0438.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/bhmmrtn/Stuff/SG1S0409.jpg
Not only that, but when they started on the closed course for the final three laps, I think there was only four or five riders left out there. Everyone else was waved off.
Does anyone know when DaveyZ's contract is up with CSC, looks quite comfy sporting the disco bottles and hanging with the soon to be disco team members.
Could It be, an american team made up of a good amount of americans?
Dave Z
Big George
Levi
Tommy D
Jason McCartney
Does anyone know when DaveyZ's contract is up with CSC, looks quite comfy sporting the disco bottles
where is he 'sporting' discovery bottles?
where is he 'sporting' discovery bottles?
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/5629/theprotourbv2.jpg
I think all the protour riders were looking after each other. I imagine since he had no team to help him, Discovery didn't mind him picking up a few of their bottles at the feed zone.
OK. One bottle.
I think all the protour riders were looking after each other.
Agreed. if I was a ProTour rider, I wouldn't want to be beaten by a domestic pro either.
ok, so i understand exactly why Levi seemed to work for george.
But why did Dave Z join McCartney in setting the pace up Paris on, what was it, the second time up?
Did he think we could get away? Was he helping out George? What was going on?
ok, so i understand exactly why Levi seemed to work for george.
But why did Dave Z join McCartney in setting the pace up Paris on, what was it, the second time up?
Did he think we could get away? Was he helping out George? What was going on?
Look at my post above yours. IMO It was PT against the local yokel domestic scene, and it would appear Chris Wherry concurs
"It was team ProTour out there today," said defending champion Chris Wherry (Toyota-United.) "It was obvious. We knew they were all going to work together, but that is how it is when Levi is going to their team next year. McCartney and Zabriskie, even though they didn't last very long, lit it up the climb [the second lap] and Levi took over and that as it."
so Dave Z really wanted to see another protour rider win? even if that rider was unaffiliated with him?
I still don't see why he wouldn't want one protour rider to win the most- himself.
the fastest time of the day for the climb was 8:56 which was the first time up for Levi, and the George did it right at 9 on the last loop.
Thanks for the info. I did it in 12:45 today. Guess I still have some work to do before I go pro.
Here are some of the better pics that I took during the race. These were from the Cleveland Park loop just past the feed zone area, once the feed zone was shut down and they were on the short loops in downtown.
BTW, I was shocked at the number of clinchers in the race. They were definitely more than 50% of the wheels in the spare bike area. Saw allot of Ksyrium SL's and ES's. Also, there were quite a few AC 420's.
Ben Jacques-Maynes, leader of Sierra Nevada, finished 7th
http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/2968/bensierra2fw6.th.jpg (http://img421.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bensierra2fw6.jpg)http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/1410/bensierrazb4.th.jpg (http://img315.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bensierrazb4.jpg)
Colnago Team Bikes
http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/4060/colnagoriderbs5.th.jpg (http://img315.imageshack.us/my.php?image=colnagoriderbs5.jpg)http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/1341/colnagos2ry8.th.jpg (http://img421.imageshack.us/my.php?image=colnagos2ry8.jpg)http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/8807/colnagosxk3.th.jpg (http://img421.imageshack.us/my.php?image=colnagosxk3.jpg)
Race Leaders Levi and George
http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/5091/leadersfinalvf1.th.jpg (http://img421.imageshack.us/my.php?image=leadersfinalvf1.jpg)http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/5091/leadersfinalvf1.th.jpg (http://img421.imageshack.us/my.php?image=leadersfinalvf1.jpg)
Sierra Nevada Team Bikes
http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/8596/mercxls5.th.jpg (http://img421.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mercxls5.jpg)
Mavic Team Bikes (Scott CR1)
http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/1377/scottcr1gg0.th.jpg (http://img315.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scottcr1gg0.jpg)
Toyota United Team Bikes
http://img421.imageshack.us/img421/7337/toyotano6.th.jpg (http://img421.imageshack.us/my.php?image=toyotano6.jpg)
so Dave Z really wanted to see another protour rider win? even if that rider was unaffiliated with him?
I still don't see why he wouldn't want one protour rider to win the most- himself.
I can understand hincapie wanting to win it in his hometown, but both jersies going to protour teams doesn't do much for domestic cycling
Thanks for the info. I did it in 12:45 today. Guess I still have some work to do before I go pro.
Jamie,
Yesterday at the race was the first time I had been up Altamont Rd. Where do you start and finish to time yourself? The KOM would be the finish I assume ,but not sure where the ascent officially starts.
Could anyone give the stats on the paris mountain limb that they were timing? ie length, elev gain
I can understand hincapie wanting to win it in his hometown, but both jersies going to protour teams doesn't do much for domestic cycling
Both should have been won by Pro Tour riders because they are Pro Tour riders. I'm not saying they had a right to win, but if they weren't better than the other guys, they wouldn't be racing in Europe.
Jamie,
Yesterday at the race was the first time I had been up Altamont Rd. Where do you start and finish to time yourself? The KOM would be the finish I assume ,but not sure where the ascent officially starts.
The Altamont climb, as defined by locals is where you turn off of Old Buncombe Rd onto Altamont. Stops obviously at the top. The climb is 890 ft over 2.2 miles.
If you draw it out to the approach on Old Buncombe road, it is 1000 ft over about 3 miles.
My time was for the 2.2 up 890 feet. Give or take.
Pez had a great write-up:
http://pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=4316
On the Dave Z matter:
The second time up the climb was much harder, the riders that got shelled there can thank David Zabriskie. Zabriskie set an evil pace up the climb, complete with Jordan-esque tongue action. When he let off the throttle and fell backwards at an alarming rate, Leipheimer pushed Dave Z out of the driver's seat and planted his foot on the gas and took firm control of the awful pace-setting work.
The second time up PM was the fastest: under 8:40. Zabriskie's ride on the climb was mildly quizzical at first, but word had it that DZ was racing today for fun and to help Levi Leipheimer. He seemed to do that ably.
Some races due to the course they just don't suit you for the long haul. But that doesn't mean you can't do something as the 'rabbit' like in track and field. I've done this a few times in my race career. If there is a bad climb in a race I know maybe the first few laps I'm ok, so I'll do some pacing for my teammates, because if I sat in the pack, I'd still blow after the same number of times up the climb anyway. So the question is whether you want to try and make a difference or just race your a## off to be packfodder. Dave Z choose to use his strength to blow the race apart. Evidently he was staying with Hincapie's brother. Furthermore I'm sure nobody minded seeing George get a win since he got so screwed at ENECO.
so Dave Z really wanted to see another protour rider win? even if that rider was unaffiliated with him?
I still don't see why he wouldn't want one protour rider to win the most- himself.
Dave Z used to race for USPS. Many people don't know that.
Another unknown fact: a lot of the ProTour Americans train together quite frequently in the offseason/winter. George and Christian Vande Velde, for example, train together all the time, apparently.
Dave Z used to race for USPS. Many people don't know that.
Many, as in the many people who do not follow pro cycling?
Another unknown fact: a lot of the ProTour Americans train together quite frequently in the offseason/winter. George and Christian Vande Velde, for example, train together all the time, apparently.
Unknown? Considering that the majority of the US ProTour riders were teammates at one point or another, and that most live in Girona during the season, then it's neither unknown, nor a surprise.
Many, as in the many people who do not follow pro cycling?
Unknown? Considering that the majority of the US ProTour riders were teammates at one point or another, and that most live in Girona during the season, then it's neither unknown, nor a surprise.
Well, its fairly obvious that a lot of the posters on here couldn't quite grasp the allegiances displayed by these guys. I was just providing some background info as to why they were doing so.
The statement by VosBike: "So Dave Z wanted to see another ProTour rider win? Even if that rider was unaffiliated with him?" is a great example. It's fairly clear that a) this person didn't know they were teammates, and b) they're good friends. No offense to you, VosBike, but that was a good example.
I knew full well they were teamates years ago and that many of them train and live together and that the US Protour riders sometimes feel a bond caused by an "us against them" feeling when isolated in europe.
However, Dave Z had a reasonable chance at winning the race or at least of making the podium. If he had sucked wheels it is very believable that he would have finished behind george and levi.
I just have trouble understanding why any years gone by team comraderie or appreciatation of george's terrible luck this season would outweight his desire to stand on the podium or have a shot at being a twin discipline national champ.
where is he 'sporting' discovery bottles?
according to local media, dave z. stayed at hincapie's house that week, where i reckon there are a few extra disco bottles laying about...;)
It was obvious that they were working for George...both Dave Z and Levi. Levi is practically a Discovery rider now. Dave Z won the time trial a few days before....so he already had a jersey. With all the doping stuff going on with Basso...and CSC's history(Hamilton, Basso etc) perhaps dave Z. wants to make sure he has a job if CSC ever folds. Not sure when his contract is up with CSC. Everyone wanted George to win in his home town. yea...lots of favors and politics going on there for sure. I don't like this kind of racing at all. I think George was capable of winning anyway...but you could make a case that this was a gift. I liked the race better with the international field. Plus I think this race belongs in Philly. No offense to Greenville. I've raced in Greenville on several occasions. It's a great town! This could have never happened in Philly with a big international field. It would have been much harder to control a race like that. Let them try this at Worlds next month.
Is it just me?..or does the domestic U.S. field seem lacking in talent compared to past years? Look who's winning all the US Pro races(not counting Pro Tour riders)...Jaedo, Hilton Clarke, etc.
P.S...I read that the Discovery team car(Ekimov) was servicing Hincapie, Dave Z, and Levi throughout the race. There was no CSC or Gerolsteiner support cars at the race.
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/9235/3toalinetz3.jpg
Look at the guys arms in the very front. That is just disgusting. No reason to be that thin. It looks as if he has a form of muscle atrophy.
Thats what most of the cat 1/2 riders around here look like...
No reason to be that thin? Huh? If you DON'T look like that you have no shot of getting up a mountain with the lead group. Even "fat boy" Jan Ullrich looked like that.
W/kg, my man.
VosBike: DaveZ, while a very powerful rider in his own right, doesn't put out the w/kg that George does. No disrespect to the man, but almost all of his TT success comes from his amazingly aero position, not overwhelming power. George is just a stronger rider. The only rider out there who could have beaten him on a selective course like this was Levi. And no offense to the foreign domestic Pros, but none of them would have been a factor in the race either. Thats why they're domestic pros. Jaedo and Hilton Clarke would get their rears handed to them on a course like this.
I was able to get a few pictures around the course here they are in a Picasa Web album:
http://lh4.google.com/bud.hammerton/RP4qFsIbABI/AAAAAAAAAJI/NKx143Bwbq8/SG1S0330_web.jpg
http://lh6.google.com/bud.hammerton/RP4qHTh-ABI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/W_RKbAsVTqE/SG1S0331_web.jpg
http://lh6.google.com/bud.hammerton/RP4qKrd5ABI/AAAAAAAAAJg/JUj34jZyIho/SG1S0335_web.jpg
http://lh3.google.com/bud.hammerton/RP4qfuWyABI/AAAAAAAAAKw/9PFJF5_7OSI/SG1S0374_web.jpg
http://lh5.google.com/bud.hammerton/RP4qliUIABI/AAAAAAAAALI/l4Q4ItnxLqY/SG1S0391_web.jpg
http://lh4.google.com/bud.hammerton/RP4qtOydABI/AAAAAAAAALo/lboUTc4hTmw/SG1S0438_web.jpg
http://lh4.google.com/bud.hammerton/RP4qpONlABI/AAAAAAAAALY/Hfh_piZGq1E/SG1S0429_web.jpg
Look at the guys arms in the very front. That is just disgusting. No reason to be that thin. It looks as if he has a form of muscle atrophy.
That's not all that thin, that's pretty much what my arms look like! You want thin, look at DZ's arms :eek: the man looks like a T-rex
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