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

[Angliru]

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.

That was actually Leipheimer that he snatched the 5th place in the gc from on the Champs, stealing the stage and Levi's 5th place finish in one magnificent effort. It had to have been a humiliating experience for Levi and the Gerolsteiner team that could do nothing to stop Vino.

 

[theyoungest]

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

Where have we seen any evidence of that?

 

[jens_attacks]

vino can podium in le tour but the chances are 10% or something.anyway this year ax 3 domaine,mortirolo or port de bales showed that he still can climb.he killed the entire favourite group on 3 domaine remember that?he could won that stage.so i guess he will get a top5 in tdf next year.

levi?i really don't know.top 10 maybe but it will be damn hard.40 km of ITT...

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

There's always a chance to win the Giro or Vuelta, but a very small chance. To win, other contenders would have to suffer from problems. I think the Tour is out of the question.

 

[El Pistolero]

Levi in 2008 could've, but now? Don't think so.

 

[CatsNK]

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

I totally agree. It's a shame he's wasting himself on TDF, I'd much rather watch him in the Vuelta, where maybe he'd have a chance. But it's his last year racing, I guess he wants to go out believing in himself.

 

[Archibald]

reckon Levi will be pushing for the ToC to become the "4th GT" - that's his only hope...

vino, well, anything's possible no matter how improbable

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

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

ok and the proove is where??

 

[hfer07]

Levi perhaps had the "means" to win the Vuelta-but he never did & never will.
Vino already won a GT

 

[fatandfast]

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

no..maybe when they downgrade to masters racing

 

[The Devil]

A Comparison of results 2010:

Alexandre Vinokourov - Astana

1st, Liège–Bastogne–Liège
1st Stage 13 Tour de France
1st Overall, Giro del Trentino - 1st, Stage 1 (ITT)
2nd, Clásica de San Sebastián
1st Vuelta Chihuahua Internacional (Criterium)

The Tour - 16th overall.
The Giro - 6th overall.


Levi Leipheimer - Team RadioShack

1st Overall Tour of the Gila - 1st Stage 1
1st Overall Leadville Trail 100 MTB (record time)
1st Overall Tour of Utah -1st Stage 2
3rd Overall Tour of California


The Tour - 13th overall.

 

[Mellow Velo]

In European terms, we now have Levi "The Ghost" Leipheimer.
IMO Tom Danielson now stands a better chance of a GT podium.

2007 was just one wheel suck too far.

 

[Boeing]

I would say no to Levi. He just can't accelerate and attack in the mountains. If it came down to it next year, I think Shack would give the nod to support Horner over Levi

 

[nowhereman]

I would say no to Levi. He just can't accelerate and attack in the mountains. If it came down to it next year, I think Shack would give the nod to support Horner over Levi

NO to both Vino and Levi. And as far as Horner over Levi, How on earth do we get so far along in our speculations that we forget the potential of Brajkovic or even Tiago Machado for that geriatric bunch at Radio Shack? Horner is no youngster either, so...we'll see if he can replicate last years performances leading into the TdF, to see if he even has a chance. ( I, personally, wouldn't bet too much on that happening)
But then again why are we wasting time wondering about RS, when we've got real contenders beginning to focus down on the TdF like A. Schleck, Nibali, Gesink, Evans, Basso, Van den Broeck, even Hesjedal and Rodriguez. While at Astana, Kruzieger is a bigger favorite than Vino, unless "team orders" hinder his bid.

 

[Matthijs]

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?

roughly that period he was leader at Rabobank and didn't deliver...

I want Vino and Levi in the Vuelta, maybe they can battle for podium or top5?

But I think Vino should try to attack the classics and WRR. With his powerfull attacks even after 250km he can destroy the field at any one if the contenders behind can't work together like this years LBL... Seriously, why shouldn't he try at RvV or MSR and the Ardennes and Vuelta/WRR/Lombardia in autumn?

 

[mr. tibbs]

roughly that period he was leader at Rabobank and didn't deliver...

I want Vino and Levi in the Vuelta, maybe they can battle for podium or top5?

But I think Vino should try to attack the classics and WRR. With his powerfull attacks even after 250km he can destroy the field at any one if the contenders behind can't work together like this years LBL... Seriously, why shouldn't he try at RvV or MSR and the Ardennes and Vuelta/WRR/Lombardia in autumn?

I would LOVE to see Vino win rainbows this year. I'm off to check the course out and guage his chances!

 

[ozerulz]

Vino placed 16th while going back to get bottles and playing second fiddle to Contador. Given the support a GC rider should get, he still has a shot at winning a GT.

 

[boardhanger]

Vino hasn't the patience to win a GT but i'd like to see him get at least one. Levi, sorry your motor is good but should focus your objectives elsewhere. Maybe Colorado next year?? Still a classy rider though.....

 

[rzombie1988]

It's unlikely that either could win, but Vino would have the better chance. It would have to be through luck(maybe a really good breakaway) or a less talented field. I never got the feeling of Levi as a GT winner. He is just missing something. He doesn't have IT.

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

Vino hasn't the patience to win a GT but i'd like to see him get at least one.

You might want to check out Vuelta 2006.
________
ESSENTIAL VAAAPP

 

[boardhanger]

You might want to check out Vuelta 2006.

Yes but he had good vitamins during 2006. I remember Vino winning 2 stages in a row. And that year the Pyrenees were not in the race, reducing mountain men's chances. The top 3 that year.

Alexander Vinokourov, Alejandro Valverde, Andrey Kashechkin

All notoriously suffer in the high mountains of the Alps and Pyrenees and Dolimites when it comes to the GT's that include them.

 

[StyrbjornSterki]

Levi can't win until Pharmstrong finally tells him, "You're a man now, Bottle."

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

I remember Vino winning 2 stages in a row.

He did the same this year in TDF. After being so close at 12th stage, he came back for stage win a day after.

At Vuelta similar thing happenned, he lost one stage to Valverde on the last meters, then took back 2 stages after that.

Consequitive efforts are Vino's trademark you see.

And stop wiggling around. GT win is a GT win.
________
redhead girl Cam

 

[boardhanger]

He did the same this year in TDF. After being so close at 12th stage, he came back for stage win a day after.

At Vuelta similar thing happenned, he lost one stage to Valverde on the last meters, then took back 2 stages after that.

Consequitive efforts are Vino's trademark you see.

And stop wiggling around. GT win is a GT win.

Hey, i'm a Vino fan. Its ok to have a realistic reality read, revealing a review respecting Vino's rise and recline. Recording a reconciliation victory at Liege this year was my favourite ride to watch. A GT win is a GT win for sure.

 

[Matthijs]

but maybe not so realistic about the Vuelta. The Pyrenees do not pay them very good (no larger city's who are willing to host/pay enough) and they have a very large variation of other options (Sierra nevada, Picos d'Europa and so on). Shorter distances than the others, enough MTF but not that many with heavy mountains before the last. So a lot of sprint finishes uphill. But also some mountains with higher percentages compared to the Tour.
Anyway, Valverder is probably the top contender for more than the last half decade. He did not show us his highest form peaks at the Tour, but on the Vuelta and other good races with respectable mountains like Dauphiné he beated allmost all other GC-contenders at some point.

So respect for Vino's win!