Can America win this year?

[bananabike]

Two Questions: Does Levi Leipheimer have a chance to win the Tour? Why or why not? (Please include in your answer how Contadors current general standing goes along with Levi's plan of winning the TDF)

[USAZorro]

Certainly he has a chance. Personally, I don't think he will, but he has a chance. I like Contador's chances a little better than Levi's, but not enough to bet money on it (if I did gamble that is).

I don't see how Levi winning would translate into America winning though. Seems that it would be Levi winning, or Team Discovery Channel winning. Last I checked, none of the riders in my club are participating in the race, and none of the 99.7% of Americans who aren't even tuned into Versus are participating in the race either - not even the morbidly obese man I saw the other day when I went through the food court at the mall.

[McSpin]

No, America can't win, but a rider from the U.S. or from a U.S. team may win. I'd say the chances are somewhere in the 10% range.

[mcoomer]

I would say at this point that it's doubtful an American rider can win. Leipheimer is nearly 4 minutes back, Horner is 9. Levi would need to make a really big splash, and soon, to have a shot. If I had to bet right now I'd put my money on Cadel Evan or maybe Andreas Kloden. Cadel is only 2:41 back and only finished :36 behind Cancellara on the prologue TT so if he can make any gains at all on Rasmussen I think he would be in good shape. Rasmussen is terrible in the TT so he needs to build a big lead heading in to that to have any chance of winning. I think it's Cadel Evans.

[voltman]

Levi Leipheimer is America?

[bac]

Does Levi Leipheimer have a chance to win the Tour?

Yes. Anything can happen in le Tour, and Levi is right in the mix for now. Next week will tell all though.

... Brad

[Keith99]

America has no chance to win the TDF in 2007. 1968 was the last year of national teams.

[Rincewind8]

America has no chance to win the TDF in 2007. 1968 was the last year of national teams.
And even then there were no continental teams... :p

[dknight07]

I would say at this point that it's doubtful an American rider can win. Leipheimer is nearly 4 minutes back...

4 mins back to a guy who can' TT with 2 big TTs coming up. He's only 1:20 back to the guy in 2nd place, who will also probably lose time to Levi in the TT. Please pay attention. Its either going to be Kloden, Evans, or Levi in yellow in Paris. If you ask me, thats the podium right there, I just couldn't tell you what order because theyre too close. How might Kloden's injury hurt him in the Pyrenees? Has Evans peaked too early, in the Alps? Will Levi's plan of waiting and peaking in the Pyrenees work? Can't pick a favorite at this point.