Leipheimer - WTF??? *stage 16 spoiler*

[BryE]

Did Discovery tell Leipheimer to take the second place bonus time from Contador, or is Leipheimer just an a**hole? Those few seconds may turn out to be very valuable in the next several days.

[dknight07]

Yes, very valuable to Levi's chances of getting on the podium. Contador didn't crack Ras. Plan B was trying to get Levi to 3rd.

[OrionKhan]

Did Discovery tell Leipheimer to take the second place bonus time from Contador, or is Leipheimer just an *******? Those few seconds may turn out to be very valuable in the next several days.

I think Disco is trying to get Levi on the podium ahead of Evans. Its seems as if Rasmussen has it locked up unless he has a very bad day at the ITT. Its been much discussed about his poor TT performance in the past. But he's obviously worked on his technique and seems highly unlikely to meltdown like he did before.

[UNLV_REB]

I still think that if the weather is not a factor like it was for the first TT, then things could turn out differently. How much of a benefit was it to Rasmussen to know that no one could take any risks on the course. I think that put him at ease. We'll see how things go next time.

[ElJamoquio]

Obviously a TT requires a bigger rider, but the last TT was the first which combined (at least in my memory):

A) a result that mattered
B) a lack of complete breakdown

for Mr. Rasmussen. It's not like a mild meltdown is impossible for him, but remember that he and Contador are roughly the same size/build, perhaps a little edge to Senor Contador, but not much.

For anyone else to beat Rasmussen WOULD require a complete meltdown, IMNSHO.

[hollow]

Did Discovery tell Leipheimer to take the second place bonus time from Contador, or is Leipheimer just an a**hole? Those few seconds may turn out to be very valuable in the next several days.

I don't know what they told him, but it made sense. He probably should have flown the coop with Chicken (sorry) but he wanted to make sure Contador was okay. Levi was trying to put some time on Evans and Contador was going to be 3 min down on Ras anyway. The extra 4 seconds are pretty insignificant. I think the worry is Evans overtaking Contador. Oh, for your second question, yes, Levi is a tremendous a**hole.

[DocRay]

given the joke of this week, it's really hard to give a f*ck about discovery's plans.

[hollow]

given the joke of this week, it's really hard to give a f*ck about discovery's plans.

But yet you're still on here. Screw them, I'm not letting them ruin something that I've been enjoying for over twenty years. If there didn't seem to be an effort being made to clean things up, I'd feel differently, but I really think there is.

[godspiral]

Was probably Levi's best tdf stage ever. Odds are he or contador will make podium.

[geraldatwork]

I think Discovery will try to burn out Rasmussen during Fridays flat stage. Disco has a strong team and I am guessing try to keep a torrid pace to wear Rasmussen out so he has less left for the TT.

[Bacciagalupe]

Yeah, Contador just didn't have it, and it's not the kind of stage where Levi could have done much more for him.

Levi was, in theory, supposed to be the main GC guy anyway -- Contador just leapfrogged him for a few days, and was in a better position to take the MJ. I have serious doubts that Ras will lose 3+ minutes on the TT, unless he has a truly devastating mechanical / crash. Which could happen... to anyone, including Contador or Levi.

I also have to say that while I did not expect Levi to win, he is doing FAR better than I expected.

[Dubbayoo]

I still think that if the weather is not a factor like it was for the first TT, then things could turn out differently. How much of a benefit was it to Rasmussen to know that no one could take any risks on the course. I think that put him at ease. We'll see how things go next time.
+1. The next TT will allow stronger riders to open it up and keep it open longer, plus that 4K climb helped Ras a lot. I think he takes his usual beating in the final TT but I don't think he loses 3 minutes to Contador. Levi needed the bonus more but I don't see him beating Evans by enough to get 3rd.

[bac]

Yeah, Contador just didn't have it, and it's not the kind of stage where Levi could have done much more for him.

Yup, that's the bottom line.

... Brad

[merlinextraligh]

Levi rode the whole stage for Contador. He only left him at thevery end when Contador couldn't hold his wheel.

If Levi sat up to give Contador the time bonus it would have given Contador 4 seconds, but itwould have cost Levi 20 some seconds vs. Evans.

The 4seconds won't be meaningful. The time vs Evans might be important for the oputside chance Levi has to pass Evans in the TT.

[Jesse Smith]

Did Discovery tell Leipheimer to take the second place bonus time from Contador, or is Leipheimer just an a**hole? Those few seconds may turn out to be very valuable in the next several days.

That word's too strong. But the way he took the time bonus, by leaving Contador behind with only a few meters left was at best questionable.
I believe the time bonus difference between 2nd and 3rd place on the stage was not significant, so Levi gained little in abandoning Alberto in the last few meters and taking the bonus. It looked bad and fell short of showing complete loyalty.
If Levi's job was to help Contador, as he SAID in the prerace interview, he has to do it all the way. Once a team has a rider in a podium position (1st, 2nd, or 3rd), you can't do anything to put that position to risk. Levi is not in a podium position, so he had no position to put to risk.
As it currently stands with Levi taking the second place bonus points instead of Alberto, the superior time trialist Cadel Evans is only 1:53 short of overtaking Contador.
By taking the 2nd place bonus points for himself, Levi is about a minute behind Evans.
So Discovery has to ask themselves this question: Which is more likely-Cadel beating Contador in the TT by 1:53, or Levi beating Cadel by a minute.
If Cadel beats Contador, Disco loses second place overall. If Levi beats Cadel, they gain third place.
In my mind, if Levi was telling the truth about preserving Alberto's second place as their MAIN goal, they should have had Levi finish off his teammate duties and escort Alberto ALL the way to the finish, instead of pulling away from him in the last few meters.
It just seems like Levi has a habit of saying one thing and doing something different.

[chipcom]

I think the landscape has just changed:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/news/?id=/news/2007/jul07/jul26news

[ElJamoquio]

****. I can't stand this any more.

And by that I mean the tirade of doping posts that will follow.