Grasschopper

Did you see the TT result? Clearly there is something goign on with Levi...I wish they would confirm what it is...lets hope it isn't a lack of doping products, that would bum me out.

lotek 

apparently he has hinted at something going on but won't say what since he
doesn't want to use it as an excuse , but isn't that in and of itself an excuse?

marty

robow

Bye Bye Levi

ElJamoquio

Wow, I almost wish I hadn't of peeked.

PolishPostal

American Levi Leipheimer, one of the pre-race favourites who lost more than six minutes in last Saturday's time trial, finished 1:44 behind the main pack before being re-instated 0:26 adrift of Freire.

Pizza Man

I saw his place and time lost on the stage and it didn't match up. Was he caught behind a crash?

lhbernhardt

That's what I love about track racing. You dispense with the first three or four hours of nonsense and get right to the point. Heh, heh.

I really liked Robbie McEwan's take on the finish in Cyclingnews:

"I was just starting to really accelerate when we hit the line, I hadn't even got into top gear yet," said McEwen. "That’s what happens on the Tour. Sometimes you need a bit of luck to get out and I didn't think I was going to get out at all, so in the last 40m I rescued a few points. It would have been nice to win another one but... that’s how the Tour goes you don't win 'em every day and maybe if I won it would get a bit boring - Hey not for me, but for everybody else!"

Robbie's interviews are the most interesting of all the riders; he gives lessons on sprinting that could be put into textbooks. Like the way he won Stage 4, where he sent leadout man Steegmans out on the outside of the last turn because he knew the outside of the turn would be clear.

I was also pleased to see Zabel getting in for 3rd. Old age again triumphing over Boonen's youth and skill. Obviously, experience really counts in a bunch sprint.

- L.

SaintAndrew

that's a pretty low point for boonen though. to get nipped on the line by zabel, at this point in their respective careers, just shouldn't be happening.

feltdude

Boonen peaked too early, I think we can now safely say.

We're about to find out if the same is true for Landis.

Allen H

Did I hear correctly, that Boonen has SEVENTEEN event and/or stage wins already this year? Good grief, no wonder he doesn't have any explosive power left in his legs for these sprint stages - he's already spent before the TdF even started.

feltdude

McEwen has credited not racing the way Boonen has (yes, 17 wins) as a reason for his success.

meb

They were commenting about that at OLN during stage 4. Robbie at age 33 is more experienced at doing what he needs to train and schedule events to peak his body for this event while Boonen has done so much else this year that he's already peaked and spent before this event.

NuCommuter

Beetle,

The bent-spoke effect is due to the movement of the camera shutter, not actual bending of the spokes. (I can't tell if you knew that!)

NuCommuter

SaintAndrew

yeah although i think as a belgian tom prolly just has different priorities. no question this is all robbie this year though. even if petacchi could have made it he wasn;t riding well. i consider petacchi, mcewen and boonen to be by far the best sprinters.