"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - USA for the World's - did I miss something?

No Levi Leipheimer?

No Levi Leipheimer?

Also very important: No Horner?

I can understand, though, as he's ridden both the Tour and the Vuelta this year.

Also very important: No Horner?

I can understand, though, as he's ridden both the Tour and the Vuelta this year.
True , but Leipheimer rode the easier ToM and even has the Worlds as part of his schedule on his website, so he clearly:
a) was qualified based on this year's results
b) juding by the ToM TT still in good form
c) wanted to go.

Why isn't the little Phinney on the U23 team?

Why isn't the little Phinney on the U23 team?
Also a good question since he won the TT.

Why isn't the little Phinney on the U23 team?Might have homework due. Talent aside, he is still in high school.

BIG jump between Juniors and U23, in terms of race length, and overall ability level, is my guess. The U23 dudes are legitimate professional racers in most cases.

Also a good question since he won the TT.


He did not win the U23 Nat'l TT this year. Nick Frey did.

Nick is a local collegiate racer who is a great kid, he kicks everyones ass in the ECCC. I'm glad to see him doing real well, hopefully he serves our collegiate conference well!

He did not win the U23 Nat'l TT this year. Nick Frey did.

We meant that he won the Junior Worlds TT. Turns out the USAC rules state U23 Worlds riders have to be 19. Therefore Phinney could not be selected.

BIG jump between Juniors and U23, in terms of race length, and overall ability level, is my guess. The U23 dudes are legitimate professional racers in most cases.
If they are professional enough to be on a UCI Pro Tour team, then they are not allowed to race U23 Worlds.

We meant that he won the Junior Worlds TT. Turns out the USAC rules state U23 Worlds riders have to be 19. Therefore Phinney could not be selected.

Even if there weren't a minimum age limit imposed by the USAC, he wouldn't be selected.

Even if there weren't a minimum age limit imposed by the USAC, he wouldn't be selected.
I'll concede that one. But the original question is still unanswered. Why isn't Levi on the team?

I'll concede that one. But the original question is still unanswered. Why isn't Levi on the team?

probably because he's done for the year,

don't go by the www, they're generally out of date.

probably because he's done for the year,

don't go by the www, they're generally out of date.
Well, I guess only Leipheimer would know and apparently he has said nothing. Still looks like a pretty strong team. Hope they do well.

I'll concede that one. But the original question is still unanswered. Why isn't Levi on the team?

He's already ridden a massive season.

Ignoring the fact that he's burned out by now, why would Levi be a good choice for a one day race like worlds? Long course, sure, but is he really a rider you'd expect to win from a small bunch sprint after several selections? He's a pure GC type with nearly no finishing capacity (at the worlds level) unless your headed up.

Ignoring the fact that he's burned out by now, why would Levi be a good choice for a one day race like worlds? Long course, sure, but is he really a rider you'd expect to win from a small bunch sprint after several selections? He's a pure GC type with nearly no finishing capacity (at the worlds level) unless your headed up.

Which begs the question:

Why no Hoa-noa?

The dude can wind it up, and he can handle any sort of terrain if he isn't slaving for someone else.

Even if there weren't a minimum age limit imposed by the USAC, he wouldn't be selected.

why not?

Ignoring the fact that he's burned out by now, why would Levi be a good choice for a one day race like worlds? Long course, sure, but is he really a rider you'd expect to win from a small bunch sprint after several selections? He's a pure GC type with nearly no finishing capacity (at the worlds level) unless your headed up.
Maybe two words: Time Trial?

why not?

Because there are plenty of U23 kids who would blow him out of the water?

Not knocking Taylor Phinney in the least, but the kid has been riding for what, a year? Or is it two? He might have all the talent in the world, but beating up on juniors in a time trial is one thing, taking on U23 dudes, all of whom have massive race experience compared to him, is another completely. Not to mention they all have talent, which has been developed over their years of training.

Not to mention the accumulated "race miles" in their legs that simply give them an advantage in longer races. It's generally acknowledged that for anyone to win the Tour before aged 27ish is rare, and just finishing for younger guys is hard enough. Simply because it takes a long time to get used to doing races of that intensity and duration.

Not knocking Taylor Phinney in the least, but the kid has been riding for what, a year? Or is it two? He might have all the talent in the world, but beating up on juniors in a time trial is one thing, taking on U23 dudes, all of whom have massive race experience compared to him, is another completely.

How about beating all the Cat 2's in an NRC race?

How about beating all the Cat 2's in an NRC race?

I have a friend who beat all the Cat2's in an NRC race as well. 8th place at the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Criterium, out of a long, long break. 100km race, with an Olympic 4k team pursuit Gold Medal winner, as well everyone else in the break being a pro or former pro. 20 years old. Also the state P1/2 TT champ.

By his own admission he is nowhere close to going to Worlds, or turning pro. His logic? If he was ready for that level of competition, he would have been able to pull some sort of sprint out of the bag, but instead, he got worked over by stronger, smarter bike racers.

By his own admission he is nowhere close to going to Worlds, or turning pro. His logic? If he was ready for that level of competition, he would have been able to pull some sort of sprint out of the bag, but instead, he got worked over by stronger, smarter bike racers.

Amazing. One minute it's "taking on U23's" now it's "going to Worlds and turning pro." (and I think anyone familiar with bike racing would recognize the difference between making the break in a one-day race and controling a five-day stage race)

Amazing. One minute it's "taking on U23's" now it's "going to Worlds and turning pro." (and I think anyone familiar with bike racing would recognize the difference between making the break in a one-day race and controling a five-day stage race)

Even though my friend is amazing, he would still get owned by the top tier U23 racers. Those top tier U23 guys will be going to worlds, and turning pro. Interesting relationship, eh?


And you failed to state that it was a five-day stage race. How am I supposed to know that?

And you failed to state that it was a five-day stage race. How am I supposed to know that?

Since you volunteered to comment on his abilities, I assumed you were at least somewhat familiar with his palmares. My mistake.

Ignoring the fact that he's burned out by now, why would Levi be a good choice for a one day race like worlds? Long course, sure, but is he really a rider you'd expect to win from a small bunch sprint after several selections? He's a pure GC type with nearly no finishing capacity (at the worlds level) unless your headed up.

Ding ding ding.

Maybe two words: Time Trial?

Hmm you got Dave Z who is a better bet than Levi.

What stage race did he win, besides L'Abitibi?

I have a friend who beat all the Cat2's in an NRC race as well. 8th place at the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Criterium, out of a long, long break. 100km race, with an Olympic 4k team pursuit Gold Medal winner, as well everyone else in the break being a pro or former pro. 20 years old. Also the state P1/2 TT champ.

By his own admission he is nowhere close to going to Worlds, or turning pro. His logic? If he was ready for that level of competition, he would have been able to pull some sort of sprint out of the bag, but instead, he got worked over by stronger, smarter bike racers.

LOL! The kid comes to that conclusion based on one crit?

By the way, Taylor has had far more impressive results that I've witnessed personally...and that's just in local races. Also, he is typically the one doing the working over, not the one dragged a long in a break all day.

Anyways, I think that guy is talking about the tie he had at Tour of the Gila. Technically, he was second based on stage placings and Brad White took the overall. Brad raced for Marco Polo after that and was going to be signed to Navigators until they folded. He will be on Jittery Joes now I think.

He is probably as good as TvG and Stetina. I'm pretty sure the reason he is not going is because he's 17 freaking years old. He has plenty of time for U23 titles.

LOL! The kid comes to that conclusion based on one crit?

By the way, Taylor has had far more impressive results that I've witnessed personally...and that's just in local races. Also, he is typically the one doing the working over, not the one dragged a long in a break all day.

As my friend, who was 20 years old at the time, is the recently crowned state Pro/1/2 TT champ, was most certainly not dragged along in the break. Having seen his power data, and been at that race, he was the one doing the dragging. Rest/recovery vs. hard efforts based on data from the race, with regards to their length, number of dudes in the break, etc can tell you a lot about who is doing the work. He dragged them across to the initial move, and then kept on working. When there is a rotation of 5 guys, and one guy is pulling hard for 25% of the time...yeah.


About Taylor Phinney: I'm not knocking him in the least. Incredible talent. The real deal. But I think there are better people for the job.

Hmm you got Dave Z who is a better bet than Levi.
Hmm a quick check shows that they TT'd against each other about 3 times this year. Result; Levi is faster two out of three. Maybe Zis faster but he did not show it this year. Levi also bested McCartney a couple of times this year. Moreover, Levi is stronger for the team in the RR than either of them. The argument that he can't do the one days might have been proven false in South Carolina and I can't believe he is that much more worn down at this point in the season than say Julich.

Hmm a quick check shows that they TT'd against each other about 3 times this year. Result; Levi is faster two out of three. Maybe Zis faster but he did not show it this year. Levi also bested McCartney a couple of times this year. Moreover, Levi is stronger for the team in the RR than either of them. The argument that he can't do the one days might have been proven false in South Carolina and I can't believe he is that much more worn down at this point in the season than say Julich.

True, but keep in mind that Zabriskie did have a problem with his bad knee, which led to his retirement from Le Tour. Due to being forced to switch shoes to fulfill sponsorship obligations.

When The Dude is on, he is quite fast.

Since its too late anyway; truce.