[tollhousecookie]

Is he definitly not going to the Tour ? Who will us Yanks be rooting for ?

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[Coach Ice]

Cadel Evans?

[DMF]

He'll be riding the Giro d'Italia starting this weekend. He looked in pretty good if not top form at the Tour de Georgia. If Astana had sent a stronger supporting team he might have won. With the full team the Giro will be very interesting. Kloden looked really good at the Tour of Romandie; he's like a new man. Johann will have a tough call as to who the team leader is from the start: Leiphiemer, Contador, or Kloden.

The team will have almost no preparation time, but should be juiced (emotionally!). Three weeks is plenty of time for the lack of preparation to trump the emotional boost.

[texastwister]

1 week notice. yikes! he will do good !

[luxroadie]

I met Levi at the start of stage 3 of the Giro - probably one of the nicest pro atheltes you could ever meet.

I was a bit under the weather so I avoid asking for a pic with him and the pat on the back but when he noticed I was taking a quick pic he actually stopped, posed and looked at the camera. A minute later as he was jumping on his bike I was taking a pic of my son just in front of him and he "leaned into" the frame more without us even asking.

Refreshing to see a pro who is that in tune with fans.

[Devil]

Levi seems like a laid back guy.

As for who to cheer on during the Tour, well, I'll be cheering for Cunego.

[Mr. Topcat]

No way Leipheimer is going to the Tour. Astana will not be invited! Some rumors say that Kazak oil companies tries to press ASO to invite Astana, but still I don't think it will happen...

Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre, Alejandro Valverde as the big favorites, no?

[jaxgtr]

Will see what happens after the Giro. If Contador wins, there might be pressure to add and then they might do it like the Giro and give them a week to put the team together.

[Miguelangel]

Rooting for Contador at 41" as a leader still anything could happen, but he is proving that not inviting the Astana team to the Tour might have been not such a good decision...
UPA CONTADOR!!!!!

[Mr. Topcat]

If Astana should have any changes of being invited to the Tour, I think the bad results from Klöden and Levi in the Giro, totally ruined them!

[jaxgtr]

Yea, but with the Giro only giving them a week, they even said they did not know how good of shape they were in.

[blamire]

hmm i think you americans probably have nothing to worry about. the tour has only invited 20 teams this year compared to 21 last year. and its unlikely that they would want to not include the likes of contador/kloden/levi.
not sure who us brits will be rooting for though im not sure if wiggins or cavendish are riding it because of the olympics. as long as someone clean wins im happy.

[Mr. Topcat]

jaxgtr: Yea, but with the Giro only giving them a week, they even said they did not know how good of shape they were in.

That's right, but still Klöden just won Tour of Romandy and Levi just won in US, so they must have been in super shape! And remember that Astana did count on both Levi and Klöden for the overall classment, i've read an interview where they are talking about all Astana on the podium....

[sykerocker]

I'll probably be rooting for Menchov - he deserves a good result after wasting his Tour last year working for Rasmussen.

[jaxgtr]

jaxgtr: Yea, but with the Giro only giving them a week, they even said they did not know how good of shape they were in.

That's right, but still Klöden just won Tour of Romandy and Levi just won in US, so they must have been in super shape! And remember that Astana did count on both Levi and Klöden for the overall classment, i've read an interview where they are talking about all Astana on the podium....

The ToC and the ToR are not a 3 week tour, plus Astana was not in a bunch of the classics this year as they were run by ASO. Single day and week long tours are one thing, three week tours require a completely different training mentality.

[Mr. Topcat]

The ToC and the ToR are not a 3 week tour, plus Astana was not in a bunch of the classics this year as they were run by ASO. Single day and week long tours are one thing, three week tours require a completely different training mentality.

You're right...Seems like the best way to prepare was being on the beach in Cadiz ;) Klöden's sickness can explain his Giro, but Levi was just one big disappointment - at least for me...

[DMF]

While Levi certainly isn't in the shape he was for the TdF last year, there's no way you can characterize his Giro performance as disappointing. Even a team as strong as Astana needs some preparation to win a Grand Tour. This just makes Alberto's performance even more amazing!

[Mr. Topcat]

I just found this link about Astana, Contador and Levi in the Giro

http://www.cycling123.com/?lang=eng -> Astana: Contador just has more talent

[Gee3]

Unfortunately with Contador as young and strong as he is and his much improved TT skills it looks like Levi will have to settle for second best on the Astana team. But I gotta give it to Levi and Kloden for being such great team players.

I'd love to see Levi win the TdF but I don't think he can keep up with Contador in the mountains. Unless he can stay close enough his only chance is to take Contador out in the TT.

Either way I'd love to see an all Astana podium!