Does Levi or Vino have a chance of winning a grand tour

[boraboca]

Can either one of them win the giro, veulta, or tour

 

[The Hitch]

Vino has one won, but will never win one again. Levi hasnt and wont.

 

[boraboca]

True, but it is pretty obvious vino was doping even though he was never stripped of his title

 

[The Hitch]

True, but it is pretty obvious vino was doping even though he was never stripped of his title

Id say both have the same problems. 1 too old. 2 not pure climbers

Vinos more a all rounder than super climber. At his early decade peak, with the doping era and all, he was able to get himself into a gc guy. + clinic stuff supposedly helps big guys like Vino Lance, more than small guys like Bertie.

Also the stars were alligned nicely for him in giro this year and he got beaten quite comfortably in the end. Evans loses time thanks to crashes on stage 2. Basso, Scarponi lose time by crashing on stage 7. He was still top of the non Laquilla guys going into the Dolomites and got beaten by Basso, Scarponi, Nibali on every stage.

From this, its not like hes going to get any younger. Hes already what 36.

Same problem for Levi. too old, and he wins mainly tt stages, while hanging to others in the mountains.

ps good topic. we are becoming more and more in need of these in the off season.

 

[jsem94]

Vino's 06 Vuelta show was pretty epic. Won't be replicated... ugh was gonna bring up clinic talk but nvm...

But they're both pretty old and won't ever score another top 5 in a GT imo. Vino might get a top 10 (he won't be able to help himself from attacking from 3rd place only to crack up Stelvio and drop to 7th), levi a top 15 with some eternal wheelsucking.

 

[Parrulo]

Id say both have the same problems. 1 too old. 2 not pure climbers

Vinos more a all rounder than super climber. At his early decade peak, with the doping era and all, he was able to get himself into a gc guy. + clinic stuff supposedly helps big guys like Vino Lance, more than small guys like Bertie.

Also the stars were alligned nicely for him in giro this year and he got beaten quite comfortably in the end. Evans loses time thanks to crashes on stage 2. Basso, Scarponi lose time by crashing on stage 7. He was still top of the non Laquilla guys going into the Dolomites and got beaten by Basso, Scarponi, Nibali on every stage.

From this, its not like hes going to get any younger. Hes already what 36.

Same problem for Levi. too old, and he wins mainly tt stages, while hanging to others in the mountains.

ps good topic. we are becoming more and more in need of these in the off season.

very good post hitch

tho in vino's defence he had the same problem as evans. he was carrying his form from the ardennes or even tirreno so by the time he reached the dolomites he was getting weaker.

 

[Anonymous]

Vino has a way bigger chance of winning one that Levi, and given his age, and his team, Vino has very little chance, but could possibly get a podium in the giro if a few riders decide to save themselves for the Tour. I think Levi has about as much chance of winning a grand tour as Chris Horner. No disrespect meant to Chris Horner. Levi had his chance, but he preferred to sit in peoples shadows.

 

[The Hitch]

tho in vino's defence he had the same problem as evans. he was carrying his form from the ardennes or even tirreno so by the time he reached the dolomites he was getting weaker.

THanks
Good point. Didnt he win Giro Trentino as well? Though as i recall basso came 3rd so maybe that wasnt as big a detrement. Still dont see him competing with the likes of Basso in a gt.

On the other hand thinking about it, he was quite good in the Tour. Super effort into Mende, singlehandidly breaking Saxo, narrowly losing the stage, then coming back the next day and taking a stage from the sprinters in epic fashion. He was up there despitre fetching bottles for Contador in the mountains.

No Contador next year at the Tour, good team behind him, he focuses right on it, gets a bit of luck, maybe an outsiders chance.

Vino has a way bigger chance of winning one that Levi, and given his age, and his team, Vino has very little chance, but could possibly get a podium in the giro if a few riders decide to save themselves for the Tour. I think Levi has about as much chance of winning a grand tour as Chris Horner. No disrespect meant to Chris Horner. Levi had his chance, but he preferred to sit in peoples shadows.

When did he have his chance and not take it? Tour 07 he was down to Contador from the start. Vuelta 08 he wasnt going to take the leadership from Contador thats for sure. Giro 09 he was leader and failed. I think he had a good chance for another podium in Tour 09 but crashed.

 

[Anonymous]

When did he have his chance and not take it? Tour 07 he was down to Contador from the start. Vuelta 08 he wasnt going to take the leadership from Contador thats for sure. Giro 09 he was leader and failed. I think he had a good chance for another podium in Tour 09 but crashed.

Ok, when I say chance, I mean career wise. Maybe just poor choice of teams. If Levi had joined a team 8-9 years ago, as leader, stuck with them, would he have won a grand tour?

 

[luckyboy]

True, but it is pretty obvious vino was doping even though he was never stripped of his title

Could say that about any GT winner for the past 20 years.

In answer to the question, obviously not.

 

[steelciocc]

Levi's ship has sailed...

Some might say that LL's "chance" was the years as a team leader at Gerolsteiner and Rabobank. Theoretically he had everything at his disposal during that 3-4 year period and did little with it (as far as winning a GT).

 

[PCutter]

When did he have his chance and not take it? Tour 07 he was down to Contador from the start. Vuelta 08 he wasnt going to take the leadership from Contador thats for sure. Giro 09 he was leader and failed. I think he had a good chance for another podium in Tour 09 but crashed.

He had his chance when he was at Rabo and Gerolsteiner (particularly when at Gerolsteiner), he had his opportunity and couldn't deliver. Is he a good rider, obviously yes, but could he win a GT, obviously no. And he's not about to get better. I think after his failure at Gerolsteiner when he was the protected GC rider, he accepted his limitations and went back to being a very good domestic, with opportunities in shorter stage races. Much like Michael Rogers has come to the same conclusion in the last year.

If you want a guy who's ridden as a domestique but given up a real chance of GT wins, its Klodi.

 

[Parrulo]

THanks
Good point. Didnt he win Giro Trentino as well? Though as i recall basso came 3rd so maybe that wasnt as big a detrement. Still dont see him competing with the likes of Basso in a gt.

On the other hand thinking about it, he was quite good in the Tour. Super effort into Mende, singlehandidly breaking Saxo, narrowly losing the stage, then coming back the next day and taking a stage from the sprinters in epic fashion. He was up there despitre fetching bottles for Contador in the mountains.

No Contador next year at the Tour, good team behind him, he focuses right on it, gets a bit of luck, maybe an outsiders chance.



When did he have his chance and not take it? Tour 07 he was down to Contador from the start. Vuelta 08 he wasnt going to take the leadership from Contador thats for sure. Giro 09 he was leader and failed. I think he had a good chance for another podium in Tour 09 but crashed.

ya vino did a very good tour, he was even the first to answer to the baby shleck attack on the chaingate stage(i don't want this to turn into a chain gate discussion but from the video there is a prespective where you see contador on vino's wheel ready for the counter-attack)

i think that if he focus on the tour with a team behind him and no berto. he can actually get another top 10.

levi on the other hand is just an invisible rider and tbh i don't think he has another top 10 in him.

btw i would like the also throw this into the discussion.

the mentality of both levi and vino. their mentalities are complit oposites. vino attacked on the champs *****(i can't type french lol but you know what i am talking about) to gain a a place on the GC from mancebo and the stage. i don't even recall ever seeing levi attacking. like ever srsly some1 link me to a youtube video with him doing a serious attack. he seems like the kind of guy that settles and doesn't try for anything better while vino always wants more.

p.s.
also following what pcutter said imo kloden would be better choice for this thread insted of levi. but i am some sort of kloden fanboy ever since he started showing up at the tour in the armstrong days.

 

[BroDeal]

If Leiphiemer had a chance of winning something important in Europe then he would not be spending his time beating up riders in the U.S. who have winter jobs to make ends meet.

Vino will continue to notch good wins.

 

[hrotha]

Levi had no chance away from Bruyneel... In view of that, he should have said "screw it" and tried to get a GT or two from Contador. Now it's never going to happen.

Vino has a better chance but as others have said, it's 99% sure not going to happen. He has a GT win but that wasn't exactly the strongest field ever, and he's never been a top climber, not even during his best years.

 

[erader]

both are too old. it could happen but it would be a freak occurence.

erader

 

[royalpig180]

THanks
Good point. Didnt he win Giro Trentino as well? Though as i recall basso came 3rd so maybe that wasnt as big a detrement. Still dont see him competing with the likes of Basso in a gt.

On the other hand thinking about it, he was quite good in the Tour. Super effort into Mende, singlehandidly breaking Saxo, narrowly losing the stage, then coming back the next day and taking a stage from the sprinters in epic fashion. He was up there despitre fetching bottles for Contador in the mountains.

No Contador next year at the Tour, good team behind him, he focuses right on it, gets a bit of luck, maybe an outsiders chance.

Don't you think that Kreuziger would most likley be team leader in the tour? He's focused on this the last couple seasons and I don't think that will change. I would imagine Vino will do the same thing he did this year, what with peaking for the Ardennes and then carrying over some form into the Giro.

 

[The Hitch]

Don't you think that Kreuziger would most likley be team leader in the tour? He's focused on this the last couple seasons and I don't think that will change. I would imagine Vino will do the same thing he did this year, what with peaking for the Ardennes and then carrying over some form into the Giro.

Vino has said that its Roman for Giro, VIno for Tour.

 

[Maxiton]

Vino has one won, but will never win one again. Levi hasnt and wont.

That.

(⌸⌺⌼⌾⍔⍫- filling in my required ten characters.)

 

[Contre la montre]

In a "normal" closed race like most editions of the tour have been Vino and LL won't have a chance on winning. In an open race like last years Giro however Vino just might have a chance. I can see him riding in the front, attacking from a long way out under terrible conditions or just making the right break (like Aquila). Leipheimer will definitely not attack, be in the front, or make the right break. Chances of a crazy Giro like this year are rather slim though. Personally I'm not betting on either of them to podium ever again.

 

[Kvinto]

Vino is great at hilly classics, this is his niche (now he is 37 and it's too hard to recovery during 3 weeks racing) and i really don't know why does he need such an overrated and boring race like TDF

 

[Jan the Man]

Vino - As has been pointed has already won a GT. He won't win one next year unless the Vuelta is entirely different to Giro and Tour. He is too old and cannot climb with the goats.

Levi - Cannot with the goats, no acceleration and not bold/aggressive enough to win a GT imo.

 

[Anonymous]

If Leiphiemer had a chance of winning something important in Europe then he would not be spending his time beating up riders in the U.S. who have winter jobs to make ends meet.

Think that sums it up very nicely in one sentance.

 

[markene2]

I think it's possible for Vino to get a top 5 in the GC. He climbs just as well as Van Den Broeck. And TT's better than Sanchez and Broeck. So a top 5 is possible. LL can get a top 10

 

[sherer]

Would love to see Vino going for a GT win again, the attacking style is a joy to watch, but think the younger guys are just too strong for him. He's said he's going for the tour next year so the stronger field there means top 10 only