"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Them's Fightin Words Pal

“I’ve never seen Leipheimer attack,” Di Luca said on RAI television. “He’s going to have to now if he wants to win this Giro.”

Leipheimer – who finished safely in the pack in Friday’s stage to remain third overall at 40 seconds back – might be ready to surprise the Italians.

The Astana captain said when the time is right, he will be the one charging up the road. And this time he won’t be waiting for anyone else.

“If I feel good enough, I will attack, I promise you that,” Leipheimer said before Friday’s stage. “We have to take it day-by-day. It’s a long, hard race. Tomorrow is a day for Di Luca. I will try not to lose time to him because the stage is tailor-made for Di Luca.”

First Levi says he'll attack. Then in the next breath he's making excuses for the next day's stage.

You have to admire the media backpedaling and the foresight to access the Bag of Excuses in advance. That's a seasoned pro right there.

Levi's the tortoise, to Di Luca's hare

More fun to watch the fidgety rabbit, but in the end beware of turtles

Daniwo DiWuca. Siwwy Wabbit.

^^^ Great, now pcad is doing cartoon character impressions.

Does anyone remember Leipheimer ever attacking on any stage of a grand tour? Can't think of one. He's one of the most boring riders around in that regard.

I've attacked Levi before. He's as exciting to watch race as it is to watch paint dry. His heart, passion and desire never come through in his pedal strokes....only his brain does.

Does anyone remember Leipheimer ever attacking on any stage of a grand tour? Can't think of one. He's one of the most boring riders around in that regard.

that's what they said about indurain but the difference of course is indurain won the tour 5x in a row by conserving energy and smoking the TTs. eventually he got tired of the criticism and stormed a couple of stages. man what a classy, unflappable dude he was :).

ed rader

i guess i see levi a little differently. i've photographed him near the top of the nastiest climb in the TOC -- sierra road -- each of the four years of the race. and every year he came over the top first, except this year when he already had the race lead and it was pouring......

2006...

http://www.fototime.com/19F307E74D63734/orig.jpg

2007...

http://www.fototime.com/51BCA63C74255C8/orig.jpg

2008....

http://erader.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p261214549-5.jpg

2009....

http://erader.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p902530274-5.jpg

ed rader

eventually he got tired of the criticism and stormed a couple of stages.


remember, 1995 stage 8 I believe into Liege w/ Bruyneel stuck on his wheel.
Johan's famous quote, "it was like motorpacing!"

Levi's attacks are more like long drawn out suffer sessions.
Whoever lasts will win.

that's what they said about indurain but the difference of course is indurain won the tour 5x in a row by conserving energy and smoking the tts. Eventually he got tired of the criticism and stormed a couple of stages. Man what a classy, unflappable dude he was :).

Ed rader


+1,000,000

i guess i see levi a little differently. i've photographed him near the top of the nastiest climb in the TOC -- sierra road -- each of the four years of the race. and every year he came over the top first, except this year when he already had the race lead and it was pouring......



ed rader

Haven't you gotten the Bf meme? The TOC is for Levi to win and fat overweight Euro's to get in some decent recovery rides:lol:

I'm going to run the risk of a flame war here, but of all the riders on the pro circuit, Levi is one of the few riders I respect. He's shown weakness in the Grand Tours, he's suffered on the wheels of the best riders, and when all the stars align, he wins big races. To top it off, I can't remember his name being mentioned in any doping scandal.(though I can be corrected)

Riders and wanna-be's have criticized Levi for not attacking, being boring, etc.... Most of these "exciting" riders that are compared to Levi have been at some point been involved, mentioned, or admitted to doping.

As far as I'm concerned, Levi getting dropped, only being able to follow wheels, and riding to his strengths only proves that he's human, clean, and smart to ride his race and not the race others want him to do.

To top it off, I can't remember Levi's name being mentioned in any doping scandal.(though I can be corrected)



He was caught for something back in the mid-90's, but it has long been forgotten.
Kind of like Bugno's caffeine and Big Mig's little issue.
I think Lance is the only guy to never have had any controversy regarding banned substances.
Lucky I guess.

I'd rather watch Levi than Cadel. He also seems to be a pretty nice guy (not alone, I know, but still)

He was caught for something back in the mid-90's, but it has long been forgotten.
Kind of like Bugno's caffeine and Big Mig's little issue.
I think Lance is the only guy to never have had any controversy regarding banned substances.
Lucky I guess.

lance had a minor issue with "saddle sore cream".

bottom line is levi carries himself like a champ. i'd love to see him win this race but even if he doesn't i'll still respect the guy :thumb:.

ed rader

Does anyone remember Leipheimer ever attacking on any stage of a grand tour? Can't think of one. He's one of the most boring riders around in that regard.

think harder. (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/?id=live/tour0716)


16:46 CEST
It's steep here at Eaux Bonnes, 7%.

Rabobank continue to lead. They are 48" back. Horner is right at the back of the group.

16:47 CEST
Menchov has blown a gasket.

Sastre attacks! Impressive acceleration..

16:47 CEST

16:48 CEST 207.3km/11.2km to go
Rasmussen has no team-mates left...Popovych leads from Contador, with Rasmussen on his wheel..

They are 36" behind Sastre. Mayo got back up to him.

16:49 CEST
Soler is about to be caught...great effort today. Will it be enough?

Zubeldia has been dropped. Boogerd also went a while back.
Leipheimer attacked first

16:49 CEST
Soler is caught. Popovych is driving this bunch.

16:50 CEST
Schleck hangs on at the back, last wheel. Pereiro and Valverde are there, Evans, Soler, Leipheimer, Rasmussen, Contador and Popovych.

16:51 CEST
Sastre and Mayo are just 22" ahead now. Mayo is out of the saddle, Sastre is in his. They have 10 kilometres to go.

Schleck, Pereiro and Valverde have been dropped!

16:52 CEST
Schleck leads the other two. Popovych still leads up front.

16:52 CEST
Five left; three Discovery riders, Rasmussen and Evans. Soler has also been dropped.

16:52 CEST
Sastre and Mayo have been caught...
Leipheimer attacks...

16:53 CEST
Rasmussen goes after him. He's very isolated now. Ah, Popovych is gone. So it's four up front.

16:53 CEST
Sastre and Mayo have both been dropped, so there are four up front. Leipheimer leads.

16:54 CEST
Brave effort by Sastre today. Evans is at the back of this group for now. He's out of the saddle, as are Contador and Leipheimer.

16:55 CEST
These are the first four riders in the general classification.

16:55 CEST
Leipheimer is setting a steady pace at the front; surely this suits Rasmussen, given that it's what he had his team-mates doing until they cracked?

16:56 CEST
Now he goes...Rasmussen covers it, so the four are still together heading into a tunnel.

16:56 CEST
Contador has gone! And Rasmussen can't respond...

16:57 CEST
He attacked just when they were coming out of the tunnel.

However, instead of trying to go with him, Rasmussen just ups his pace gradually and brings him back.

16:57 CEST
The four are still together...they all look stuffed. Nobody has any real zip at this point. Rasmussen leads, with Contador and Evans on his wheel.

16:58 CEST
Leipheimer has attacked! He gets a gap. Rasmussen brings him back again. Evans is at the back.

think harder. (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/tour07/?id=live/tour0716)

Can you think of any others? I can't.

Levi has attacked numerous times.
Never with the explosiveness of the one-day type riders though.
It's like he's attacking in mud.
Boring too watch, but effective over the long haul.

Can you think of any others? I can't.

he tried once in the 2006 TdF, but that was after he lost tons of time in the TT.

I think what a lot of people would like to see from Levi before he wins them over completely is a 100% balls-to-the-wall-do-or-die attack on a crucial grand tour stage. Like Di Luca this year, Sastre last year at the TdF and like all the great ones--as someone mentioned even from a very measured rider such as Big Mig. Preferably to a stage win, but even if he got brought back it would say a lot about Levi--getting out of the saddle and having a bit of a dig occasionally with the group he's with doesn't really count IMHO.

Levi is a perpetual bridesmaid. He doesn't have the internal hate needed to be a GT winner.

Levi is a perpetual bridesmaid. He doesn't have the internal hate needed to be a GT winner.

and time's running out. if it doesn't happen this year....it won't, imo.

ed rader

Unless some major catastrophe happens to Menchov and DiLuca, I can't possibly see him win the Giro. Tour is out of the question for him given the competition for it in his own team, much less including the rest. Very good podium finisher? No question about it. Top podium spot contender? Not really. And yes, I personally like the guy.

Unless some major catastrophe happens to Menchov and DiLuca, I can possibly see him win the Giro. Tour is out of the question for him given the competition for it in his own team, much less including the rest. Very good podium finisher? No question about it. Top podium spot contender? Not really. And yes, I personally like the guy.

me too.

It's a long race weenies. There are some monster climbs. Anything can happen. Levi's in very good shape in the GC. And he's still the best TT guy, particularly on a flat TT, and that's what the Giro finishes with. On a good day can Levi take 30-40 seconds back from Menchov in a 15Km TT? I think he can. But I'm hoping he can improve his GC status in the mountain stages.

But what's up with these guys? D. Menchov is 5'11" and 140lbs. How the F can anyone possibly be 5'11" and only weigh 140? That's bizarre.

It's a long race weenies. There are some monster climbs. Anything can happen. Levi's in very good shape in the GC. And he's still the best TT guy, particularly on a flat TT, and that's what the Giro finishes with. On a good day can Levi take 30-40 seconds back from Menchov in a 15Km TT? I think he can. But I'm hoping he can improve his GC status in the mountain stages.

But what's up with these guys? D. Menchov is 5'11" and 140lbs. How the F can anyone possibly be 5'11" and only weigh 140? That's bizarre.

genetics. diet. training.

genetics. diet. training.

It's the Velo Freak Show.

http://www.sideshowworld.com/circus+freaks.JPG

But seriously, how about that S2 today? The Schwag delivers.

But seriously, how about that S2 today? The Schwag delivers.

it's not about the bike. duh.

it's not about the bike. duh.

Who cares what you think?

No Cervelo for you.

Who cares what you think?

No Cervelo for you.

thank you!

thank you!

Actually, the S2 hurts my back on rides over 3 hours long.

Fortunately I did not purchase the S2 for rides over 3 hours long.

So that works out.

Actually, the S2 hurts my back on rides over 3 hours long.

Fortunately I did not purchase the S2 for rides over 3 hours long.

So that works out.

does that mean you would have used your cannondale on the ride i did on thursday (http://www.kuitenbijters.com/images/stories/5Grafieken/SRC-route-2008-163-km.gif)?

It's a long race weenies. There are some monster climbs. Anything can happen. Levi's in very good shape in the GC. And he's still the best TT guy, particularly on a flat TT, and that's what the Giro finishes with. On a good day can Levi take 30-40 seconds back from Menchov in a 15Km TT? I think he can. But I'm hoping he can improve his GC status in the mountain stages.

But what's up with these guys? D. Menchov is 5'11" and 140lbs. How the F can anyone possibly be 5'11" and only weigh 140? That's bizarre.

I distinctly remember you saying a very nearly identical thing about Cadel last year in the tour. He didn't and Levi probably won't

does that mean you would have used your cannondale on the ride i did on thursday (http://www.kuitenbijters.com/images/stories/5Grafieken/SRC-route-2008-163-km.gif)?

He probably thinks that on the S2 he could do it quicker than 3 hours!

does that mean you would have used your cannondale on the ride i did on thursday (http://www.kuitenbijters.com/images/stories/5Grafieken/SRC-route-2008-163-km.gif)?

Next time i'm going there i'm on titanium

That was horrible, i hate cycling

I distinctly remember you saying a very nearly identical thing about Cadel last year in the tour. He didn't and Levi probably won't

Levi needs a Cervelo.

does that mean you would have used your cannondale on the ride i did on thursday (http://www.kuitenbijters.com/images/stories/5Grafieken/SRC-route-2008-163-km.gif)?

Correct. 110 miles today. I rode the Six13.

Haven't you gotten the Bf meme? The TOC is for Levi to win and fat overweight Euro's to get in some decent recovery rides:lol:
Or domestic racers, sometimes- compare Landis in the 2005 and 2009 ToC shots above.

Next time i'm going there i'm on titanium

That was horrible, i hate cycling

it's not about the bike.

I distinctly remember you saying a very nearly identical thing about Cadel last year in the tour. He didn't and Levi probably won't

I would agree. The Mellow Johnny or Maglia Rosa will elevate a rider's TT abilities, particularly on the last day of a Grand Tour. But it's not deniable, Levi is generally the best TT guy in that race, particularly on a flat course. Hell, he only lost 20 secs. to Menchov on a course that probably favored Denis quite a bit.

it's not about the bike.

Ofcourse it was, what else am i going to blame

Ofcourse it was, what else am i going to blame

PM me for the entire list of possible excuses. I hope you have a cable modem.

Ofcourse it was, what else am i going to blame

having to ride with slow friends?

That's great. And true, actually

Beers at the cafe at the base of la redoute didn't help either, i imagine

That's great. And true, actually

Beers at the cafe at the base of la redoute didn't help either, i imagine

:eek:

Does anyone remember Leipheimer ever attacking on any stage of a grand tour? Can't think of one. He's one of the most boring riders around in that regard.

2006 Tour de France. He was like 4 minutes down or something.