Professional Cycling For the Fans - Discovery's best GC contender this year?

okay, quick poll: who is the best GC contender this year for the Disco squad? automatic disqualification if you even mention Basso. Leipheimer is getting all the media attention, thanks in part to his Tour of California win earlier this year, but for my money Contador is the ****! and Gusiev is up there in GC standings with Popovych as well. what do you guys think?

Contador.

I'm kinda up in the air on that one. Until about five minutes ago I was convinced that Levi was still the team leader with a little bit of gamesmanship going on to fool other teams, cover all the moves and let Levi just stay with the favorites and conserve energy. But coming in today Popo basically attacked Levi by driving the bunch after Soler while Levi looked surprised and had to fight to stay on.......hhmmm......it seems to be a free-for-all in the team this year. I guess that's by design somehow. But Contador essentially attacked Leipheimer on the Galibier in order to chase down Pop and Gusev on his own. I have no idea what to make of that.....

Levi is still the GC man. He has more experience. Contador is impressive. If Levi has one of his patented off days then Contador take his slot.

Contador just rode away from Levi...so clearly team orders are not in place.

Levi is still the GC man. He has more experience. Contador is impressive. If Levi has one of his patented off days then Contador take his slot. I agree that Levi is still the overall GC man, but Contador will take over if Leipheimer falters in the next mountain stage.

okay, quick poll: who is the best GC contender this year for the Disco squad?

I like Contador unless Levi comes into better form in the last week of le Tour. It should be fun to watch!

... Brad

Tough question!

Leipheimer and Contador had a great day today. Between those two it's a complete toss up. T

hough Popovych is doing great, he seems to be relegated to the role of support. He did a great job to lead out his DSC teammates at the end today.

Gusev lost a handful of minutes today. Probably not going to get them back on his DSC teammates. But he's a great young talent who will get his time in the sun later.

well, i think bruyneel and leipheimer have everything going according to plan so far, but maybe contador is even stronger thyan they think? regardless of this year's Tour, i'll be watching Contador for future Tour wins- he's way too talented to not threaten wins for years! BTW, how is his TT? i can't recall ever watching him TT.

Contador is a nice wild card to have, but remember he is young with no tour experience. Putting your eggs in that basket is not wise. It is a nice basket to have.

Levi rode very well today, and it was Discos plan for the attacks by Popo, Gusev, and Contador. If Contador gains time on the GC that is good, if the GC's have to use energy to chase that is good.

Contador in White, and Popo in the Dots along with a top 5 for Levi would be a very sucessful tour. The they may gain the team honors to.

Richard

Contador is awesome.

But Contador essentially attacked Leipheimer on the Galibier in order to chase down Pop and Gusev on his own. I have no idea what to make of that.....


JB stated that their 3 goals were to win a stage, get Levi on the podium, and win the white jersey with Contador. That tells me Contador is more important that Levi.

levi is just a ploy like all of vs/oln's coverage to try to sucker in american fans. JB is no dummy, and there is no way he's going to actually pick a guy as the leader who's proven time and time again that he doesn't have quite what it takes to get on the podium, much less win.

levi is just a ploy like all of vs/oln's coverage to try to sucker in american fans. JB is no dummy, and there is no way he's going to actually pick a guy as the leader who's proven time and time again that he doesn't have quite what it takes to get on the podium, much less win.


Yea, just like in '99 when he picked a guy to lead his team who never finished in sight of the podium and was recovering from cancer.


Oh and don't forget Basso was to be the leader.

My take: Levi is playing possum till the Pyrenees and the TT, hoping he will be still fresh and coming into his best form, while some of the other contenders will have shot their wad. Can he do it? I guess we shall see. ;)

Where's Tailwind Sports in their sponsor negotiations?

There's value in having an American team leader for them.


Also, being on the podium has to be more important to any team than getting the White Jersey.

The best part about Contador, he was born on my birthday 12/06/1982. I guess he got all the good cycling geans for that day

levi is just a ploy like all of vs/oln's coverage to try to sucker in american fans. JB is no dummy, and there is no way he's going to actually pick a guy as the leader who's proven time and time again that he doesn't have quite what it takes to get on the podium, much less win.

That's why he picked Basso. Now he's got to play the cards he has left.

If Contador was wise he would ride for the white, and mark all challengers for that jersey. He has used up quite a bit of energy on the last two stages. Although it appears he is very talented he is not wise. He is full of pee and vinegar, and will be a force to be dealt with in the next few years. I suspect he will continue to attack like mad, and on stage 14, 15, or 16 he will crack. When he does he will probably lose the white jersey to. Hopefully he will settle in, and be patient, and avoid all of that. He is good, but he is not that much better than the other GC contenders, and the Pyrenees will teach him a lesson.

Discovery has two contenders that have to be watched by the other GC's. That is a good position to be in. With Popo, Gusev, and Hincapie pounding tempo they can cause some problems.

I really think they can Get Levi in the top 5, Contador in the white, and Popo in the dots, and possibly take the team classification. Maybe they would consider that a failure, but I think that would be a helluva tour.

Richard

That's why he picked Basso. Now he's got to play the cards he has left.
yeah, with contador as his ace. why race for fifth with levi, when you could at least gamble for a podium or win with contador? JB is no fool. he's not about to go for the team win, or polka dot, or publicity breakaways. trust me he's playing contador as the leader.

Levi will finish ahead of Contador this year.

Richard

Trust me, Levi is the leader. Ask Levi, ask Contador, ask JB. This tour is going exactly according to plan for them. I don't see how anyone could think otherwise when that is what they have all been saying since before the tour. We are seeing all of their ambitions realized right now. Levi came to the tour without his best form and is the equal of all the other favorites. His TT is improved this year, the Pyrenees will suit him. He will have a bad day... so will every other favorite. Either that or Vino has taken up all their bad days collectively.

How is Contador's TTing in relation to the other GC riders?

Levi will finish ahead of Contador this year.

Richard

i believe you are right.

ed rader

Trust me, Levi is the leader. Ask Levi, ask Contador, ask JB. This tour is going exactly according to plan for them.

I agree.

I don't understand why Contador was attacking on the climb only to finish with basically the same time with the people he attacked against. Seems like wasted energy. :rolleyes:

he attacked to track down popovych, in the hopes that either they could pull back soler, or spawn a chase- remember, the group right behind them was chock full o' favorites. popo and contador are both dangerous enough in a breakaway that they need to be watched. what really surprised me was that soler kept his cushion so well, he even got a great second wind in the last few km's. levi had no designs on a stage win, at least not this early. he's definitely got his eyes on the pyrenees, and could factor heavily in the two tt's as well. discovery are looking like they are sitting pretty right now, with a lot of options.

discovery are looking like they are sitting pretty right now, with a lot of options.
Absolutely. At the Dauphine I don't think anyone doubted that Astana were the strongest team, but what team has looked better than Discovery so far this tour? The only disappointment so far is George, but I'm hoping he's saving the majority of his energy to help Levi in the Pyrenees. Could just be that his form isn't so good, though. Remember the Disco of last year's tour? This year's team look like they're toying with the peloton at times. What a turn around.

Discovery looks better than last year, but they are hardly dominating, or toying around. I am not even sure they are the strongest team. There are a few really good teams this year.

Richard


Absolutely. At the Dauphine I don't think anyone doubted that Astana were the strongest team, but what team has looked better than Discovery so far this tour? The only disappointment so far is George, but I'm hoping he's saving the majority of his energy to help Levi in the Pyrenees. Could just be that his form isn't so good, though. Remember the Disco of last year's tour? This year's team look like they're toying with the peloton at times. What a turn around.

Levi. It's not so much about ability, but about how the rider is used. Johan is playing a very cool game, forcing everyone to respond to Alberto in the mountains while Levi sits on the MJ's wheel. As a result of this, Levi is climbing in the standings without ever taking a risk. When he finally needs to go all in, he'll be ready.

If Contador can simply outride everyone else, he (and Disco) stand to win. If Contador cracks because he was asked to do too much, Levi is still there. And Levi is the better time trialist.

I don't understand why Contador was attacking on the climb only to finish with basically the same time with the people he attacked against. Seems like wasted energy. :rolleyes:i think the hoep was that conador could pace pop up the rest of the slope, and then popo could use his power to get them down and across the flatter parts ahead of the chase and hopefully in time ot catch soler. it looked like popo was pretty wiped out though and they weren't able to put that into action.

I don't understand why Contador was attacking on the climb only to finish with basically the same time with the people he attacked against. Seems like wasted energy. :rolleyes:

Discovery was going for the stage win. That didn't work out, but it was still a good day for them.

I have to disagree with Richard about Contador. I thnk he's going to ride away from a lot of the top GC contenders on the steeper slopes of the Pyrenees. It seemed that on the steeper slopes of the climbs in the Alps, he was able to put distance on just about everyone. I think stages 14 and 16 are well suited for him to open a nice gap.

I never said he wouldn't ride away from them, he may. It is unlikely he will do it day after day, and conserve enough energy to finish the race, or not get spit out of the back.

Things to consider with Contador;

1) He is young
2) 1st TDF
3) Talented
4) Exciting
5) Wasted a lot of energy so far
6) Untested in a grand tour

I actually think Contador breathing down Levi's neck will answer the question once and for all about Levi's tour aspirations. He will give the 1st TT his all, and if he has a luke warm result he will crack mentally.

Richard


Discovery was going for the stage win. That didn't work out, but it was still a good day for them.

I have to disagree with Richard about Contador. I thnk he's going to ride away from a lot of the top GC contenders on the steeper slopes of the Pyrenees. It seemed that on the steeper slopes of the climbs in the Alps, he was able to put distance on just about everyone. I think stages 14 and 16 are well suited for him to open a nice gap.

All we can do is wait and see.