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-   -   Leipheimer (https://www.bikeforums.net/professional-cycling-fans/210147-leipheimer.html)

ScandiHo 07-11-06 12:21 PM

Leipheimer
 
Is he sick or what's the deal here ? No EPO ?

He was looking mighty strong in the Dauphine Liberere and that is only a few weeks ago.

How can ones fitness level drop so fast ?

Cypress 07-11-06 12:32 PM

It is a strange coincidence that Tour performances this year are pretty poor (aside from Flandis) and the Spanish dope supply has been shut down...

Voodoo76 07-11-06 12:47 PM


Originally Posted by Cypress
It is a strange coincidence that Tour performances this year are pretty poor (aside from Flandis) and the Spanish dope supply has been shut down...

Yea, Lance is probably kicking himself for getting out. Just think, he dominated while clean vs. all of his main rivals doping. He would have won by what 20min or so this year? :rolleyes:

USAZorro 07-11-06 12:49 PM


Originally Posted by Cypress
It is a strange coincidence that Tour performances this year are pretty poor (aside from Flandis) and the Spanish dope supply has been shut down...

Looks like T-Mobile had a "plan B". :p

Cypress 07-11-06 12:50 PM


Originally Posted by Voodoo76
Yea, Lance is probably kicking himself for getting out. Just think, he dominated while clean vs. all of his main rivals doping. He would have won by what 20min or so this year? :rolleyes:

I haven't found anyone else besides people on this forum that claims Lance innocent.

alpe d'issaquah 07-11-06 12:54 PM

Lance used Ferrari anyway not Fuentes

domestique 07-11-06 08:11 PM

Lance innocent?... only until proven guilty! :roflmao:


I personally think Levi peaked too soon for the Dauphne and is off the razor.

Now Boonen!.... I think he stopped taking the EPO. I liek the guy, but come one! Zabel is kicking your butt! and he over 10 years older!

HDTVKSS 07-11-06 08:35 PM

smart DS's would have their riders get thier gear from different doctors, that way only 1 or 2 riders would be affected int he case of somthing like the Spanish bust.

Seems that Only Astana - Wurth were stupid enough to get all ther prescritions filled at one doctor....

Jinker 07-11-06 08:59 PM


Originally Posted by Cypress
I haven't found anyone else besides people on this forum that claims Lance innocent.

I've encountered a few non-cyclists who have Lance worship going on. They usually get shot down pretty quickly when I explain that most of the peloton 'miraculously' maintains a near 50% hematocrit level (when 'normal' levels for atheletes are 44 to 46%) for 3 weeks, cycling 130 to almost 200 kilometers a day, when marathon runners lose 1% during a 4 hour marathon, and another 3% over the next 24 hours.

Now obviously a marathon is harder on the body than a few hours on a bike, but a few WEEKS?

There *may* be riders in the peloton not doping, but they're not top 10!

Things may be different this year. I hope so, and I hope it continues. It might become more obvious over the next week in the hills.

7rider 07-11-06 09:57 PM

When I look at Leipheimer in his video interviews he looks wistful about his results. He doesn't look mad and eager to prove himself in the next part of the Tour. Maybe he has a Zen calm about something that can't be changed, and he'll perform in the mountains. Maybe he needs Zidane to headbutt him and pass on some competitive rage.

wagathon 07-11-06 10:05 PM


Originally Posted by Cypress
I haven't found anyone else besides people on this forum that claims Lance innocent.

Well . . . thanks for looking anyway. Maybe try someplace other than a French bar next time. :)

domestique 07-11-06 10:09 PM


Originally Posted by 7rider
When I look at Leipheimer in his video interviews he looks wistful about his results. He doesn't look mad and eager to prove himself in the next part of the Tour. Maybe he has a Zen calm about something that can't be changed, and he'll perform in the mountains. Maybe he needs Zidane to headbutt him and pass on some competitive rage.


I don't think I have ever seen Levi mad. He reminds me of Jan and just a quiet talented rider that is always the bridesmaid and never the bride. I think that is why Bobby Julich never won a TDF (not including Armstrong) but just the fact that he seemed too nice.

FWIW..... big fan of Julich and Levi.

toshi 07-11-06 10:28 PM

He looked pretty angry when he turned around to see his time at the TT finish. And by angry, I mean that he shook his head. A bit.

Vinokurtov 07-12-06 12:24 AM

My theory: Levi looked at the Tour contenders and figured "no way I can win", so he emptied the wallet to win the Dauphine. That and a top ten again in the TDF is still a nice season, keeps him as a team leader, like last year when he won the TDG and rode a very conservative TDF.

Then the doping scandel hit and he probably started kicking himself.

Trevor98 07-12-06 05:46 AM

Its not over until Paris, Leipheimer is only 1:30 behind Landis (90 seconds) and the closest TdF in history is 80 seconds. Its still a close race.

Grasschopper 07-12-06 06:08 AM


Originally Posted by Trevor98
Its not over until Paris, Leipheimer is only 1:30 behind Landis (90 seconds) and the closest TdF in history is 80 seconds. Its still a close race.

Umm I think you are thinking of Hincapie...he is 1:30 down on Flandis. Levi is 5:42 seconds down to Flandis and of course another min down on the Yellow jersey.

Keith99 07-12-06 02:45 PM


Originally Posted by Trevor98
Its not over until Paris, Leipheimer is only 1:30 behind Landis (90 seconds) and the closest TdF in history is 80 seconds. Its still a close race.

Closest was 8 seconds, not 80. If Marco (God rest his soul) were 90 seconds back at this point he would be in great shape. But if an all rounder or someone whose strength is the TT then that rider is in big trouble.

Levi is more in the condition that Delgado was in after his Prologue screw up in 89 (the year of the 8 second difference). It will take an heroic effort on his part to claw his way to the podium.

RockyMtnMerlin 07-12-06 05:04 PM


Originally Posted by Keith99
Closest was 8 seconds, not 80. If Marco (God rest his soul) were 90 seconds back at this point he would be in great shape. But if an all rounder or someone whose strength is the TT then that rider is in big trouble.

Levi is more in the condition that Delgado was in after his Prologue screw up in 89 (the year of the 8 second difference). It will take an heroic effort on his part to claw his way to the podium.

Sadly, you are probably correct.

Trevor98 07-12-06 05:18 PM

You are correct, I had major thinking problems on that one, however, the sentiment still stands.

The yellow jersey lost major time today and was replaced (>7 minutes). Last year Jens Voigt lost major time (almost an hour, I think) in one stage. We are worried about Leipheimer being ten minutes off the leader on day one of the mountains. I'm wouldn't write him off this soon based only on his timetrail problems.

Grasschopper 07-12-06 05:43 PM

Ok so I saw an interview with Levi, post stage today and he must have been feeling ill. His coment was that he was feeling better today but had a bonkish (his word) expierence as he couldn't get enough food into his body. Said he was going to eat well tonight so lets hope for a comeback.

Keith99 07-12-06 06:39 PM


Originally Posted by domestique
Lance innocent?... only until proven guilty! :roflmao:


I personally think Levi peaked too soon for the Dauphne and is off the razor.

Now Boonen!.... I think he stopped taking the EPO. I liek the guy, but come one! Zabel is kicking your butt! and he over 10 years older!

How is EPO supposed to help sprinters?

If he was relying on EPO he was using the wrong drug for the job.

Keith99 07-12-06 06:50 PM


Originally Posted by Trevor98
You are correct, I had major thinking problems on that one, however, the sentiment still stands.

The yellow jersey lost major time today and was replaced (>7 minutes). Last year Jens Voigt lost major time (almost an hour, I think) in one stage. We are worried about Leipheimer being ten minutes off the leader on day one of the mountains. I'm wouldn't write him off this soon based only on his timetrail problems.

Why compare apples and oranges? The 7 minutes today means nothing because it was 2 riders who have no chance in hte GC by the end. Time differences of 5 minutes or more in a stage between contenders is very rare these days (and 10 minutes was been really rare since before WW II). The last 5 minute plus was when Pantani put time on Ulrich. It is also a good example of when large time swings happen. Ulrich panicked and cracked. That is where any large time swing between contenders that I can remember happened (at least in the last 20 years). Levi has a big problem there. There are many contenders ahead of him. So what if 1 or 2 crack if a half dozen are left?

adamastor 07-13-06 12:17 AM

I saw yesterday's first stage in the Pyrenees, and leipheimer didn't look good at all. Always being dropped by a peloton of 50+ men. Historically I do not remember a guy being so bad in first mountain stage, recovering miraculously in the Alpes.

I think Leipheimer will lose loads of minutes in today's hard stage to Spain. Another disappointment on Gerolsteiner was the young hope Fothen. I just wonder if whatever Gerolsteiner is on (legal or illegal) was properly timed for this Tour de France.

badhat 07-13-06 12:41 AM

levi really does look as if he's been quite ill.

compare interviews from the past few days with prerace. hes far too gaunt for this early in the race.

in any case its a shame. he was my sentimental favorite.

Usetacould 07-13-06 06:58 AM


Originally Posted by Keith99
The 7 minutes today means nothing because it was 2 riders who have no chance in hte GC by the end.

Claudio Ciapucci came pretty damn close to winning the Tour after a day long break in which he was let go because he wasn't considered a contender.

I miss him.:(


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