Makes You Wonder if Levi and Contador Knew

[VT Biker]

After all the Levi bashing (I was included), it makes you wonder if Levi and others knew Rasmussan's days were numbered, and that his performance was so outlandish, that there was little chance he would continue to make it.

I mean, Levi's entire attitude in interviews has been so laid back, that you wonder if he was holding back their strategy for waiting for some of these dirty teams to get kicked out.

[FrankBattle]

You could indeed make that argument. After all that we've seen, I cannot believe that today of all days, Levi bested Contador ..

You could argue for a setup for Levi to win, get a [new] American sponsor for the team, then come back next year with Contador, provided we don't find HIS bags of blood.

[ElJamoquio]

I think there is a conspiracy to give an American the win. Next you'll see Evans and Contador kicked out. Contador will be kicked out by the team so that Discovery stays in the race.

[adam]

I could be wrong- I thought I read that Contador had something/anything with Operation Puerto? I'll do some looking....

[adam]

Nope - looks like he was cleared:

http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/news/articles/12925.0.html

[ryanspeer]

You could indeed make that argument. After all that we've seen, I cannot believe that today of all days, Levi bested Contador ..

You could argue for a setup for Levi to win, get a [new] American sponsor for the team, then come back next year with Contador, provided we don't find HIS bags of blood.don't . . . even . . . suggest that. Please.

This is turning into a circus and one or both of those two going down would ruin me as a professional cycling fan.

[bac]

No.

... Brad

[ryanspeer]

After all the Levi bashing (I was included), it makes you wonder if Levi and others knew Rasmussan's days were numbered, and that his performance was so outlandish, that there was little chance he would continue to make it.

I mean, Levi's entire attitude in interviews has been so laid back, that you wonder if he was holding back their strategy for waiting for some of these dirty teams to get kicked out.

I imagine there's got to certainly be A LOT of suspicion, but considering they have their own private quarters (i.e., teams don't share beds), there's got to be a lack of any hard proof for the most part. Still though considering Levi and Rasmussan used to be team mates themselves, perhaps he did know it was just a matter of time.

Either way - Worst TdF ever. Assuming Contador and Levi are both clean, it's a shame they've both been robbed of more of the spotlight, being able to ride in the yellow jersey themselves, etc. Living in the shadow of a cheater must suck today. Bitter victory, of sorts.

[interested]

Nope - looks like he was cleared:

http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/news/articles/12925.0.html

Well, he was cleared by the UCI because they didn't receive the Puerto evidence against him. The german newspaper Züddeutscher Zeitung has the story about "document 31" that allegedly shows that Contador was a Fuentes client. Allegedly Contador made some kind of deal with the prosecuter, that he would tell them what he knew if could be cleared from any connection with the Puerto case. Anyhow, the Spanish authorities never did send UCI the Contador papers, whatever their reason was.

So Contador is next in line, perhaps when they start to DNA test the blood bags if not before.


--
Regards

[tcs]

Either way - Worst TdF ever.

If this year is worse than the 40-50 years when it was a matter of course for the best riders to be juiced, then the issue is wishing doping was still swept under the rug and kept hush-hush.

TCS

[FIVE ONE SIX]

i just wonder what's going to happen if/when comes down to Contador and Levi, whom is going to be working for whom? and how does the rest of the Discovery team feel about all of this?

[SipperPhoto]

i just wonder what's going to happen if/when comes down to Contador and Levi, whom is going to be working for whom? and how does the rest of the Discovery team feel about all of this?

Well, for the most part, other than the Time Trial, the race is basically over. Levi is still the team leader, and I'm sure Bruyneel will make Contador work for him.. but there isn;t that much racing left.

I guess it will come down to whoever does the best TT...

jeff

[blue_nose]

Nope - looks like he was cleared:

http://www.velonews.com/tour2007/news/articles/12925.0.html

Just like Bruyneel checked out Basso when he signed him again :rolleyes:

I would not be surprised if DNA evidence eventually ties Contador to Peurto.

[DMF]

I could be wrong- I thought I read that Contador had something/anything with Operation Puerto? I'll do some looking....

You have to remember what the original OP data was — a bunch of coded records. The Guardia Civil tried their best for a preliminary decoding and apparently got several IDs wrong. (And several right. :p )

I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to anyone that was initially named, then cleared.

[Dubbayoo]

So, do Levi and Popo bolt for other teams now that Contador is the supreme leader of Team Disco?

[DMF]

... Levi is still the team leader,...
I was slightly shocked today to see that Alberto is listed as the "Team Leader" on the official TdF site (http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/LIVE/us/1600/equipes_presentation.html).

Don't know it that is based solely on GC standings, but Levi has always been listed by the team as captain.


I'm sure Bruyneel will make Contador work for him..
Like he did today? :rolleyes:

[patrick07]

You could indeed make that argument. After all that we've seen, I cannot believe that today of all days, Levi bested Contador ..

You could argue for a setup for Levi to win, get a [new] American sponsor for the team, then come back next year with Contador, provided we don't find HIS bags of blood.


In watching the end of the stage, I wondered why Levi didn't hang back and allow Contador to get the bigger time bonus for finishing second thereby putting him closer to Rasmussen.

That being said, I still have a lot to learn about cycling strategy.