How long can Levi keep it in his pants?

[BeachBum]

I agree with posters who say he's (LL) got no kick. He is a diesel and can't live with the acceleration of Contador or Schleck.
Has to go hard from afar and hope to take the sting out of these guys, much like a European long distance runner, up against a bunch of Kenyans.

I agree, but I'll take it a bit farther-- the Shack has to play like CSC did in 2008, when CSC had both Schlecks and Sastre attack one after another until Cadel cracked. LL will have to attack from far out, and Kloden, and LA, one after another, every day, until somebody (AC, or the Shack boys) blows up.

If AC really hurt his leg in the P-N crash today, maybe we'll see if Levi can summon 'it.'

 

[Ninety5rpm]

I agree, but I'll take it a bit farther-- the Shack has to play like CSC did in 2008, when CSC had both Schlecks and Sastre attack one after another until Cadel cracked. LL will have to attack from far out, and Kloden, and LA, one after another, every day, until somebody (AC, or the Shack boys) blows up.

If AC really hurt his leg in the P-N crash today, maybe we'll see if Levi can summon 'it.'

Should be an interesting week!

 

[luckyboy]

I agree, but I'll take it a bit farther-- the Shack has to play like CSC did in 2008, when CSC had both Schlecks and Sastre attack one after another until Cadel cracked. LL will have to attack from far out, and Kloden, and LA, one after another, every day, until somebody (AC, or the Shack boys) blows up.

It would be comedic when Andy and AC just accelerate past. Those tactics would work on someone like Cadel - climbers who don't attack, but go at their own pace. If there were two or three Di Luca's doing it to Menchov in the Giro he would've blown for sure.

 

[flicker]

What is odd to me is Levi does so well in GC as a support rider. As a designated leader something always happens to him.(excepting the ToC)

 

[quadsRme]

flicker--it's because he is a support rider. yes he has won races in the past but in the GT's he is just a support rider, IMHO.
don't take me wrong here, he is a good rider, like the others on the thread say, he doesn't have the kick.

 

[flicker]

Why doesn't Lance bring Kloden in as number 2 backup then. Way cooler guy and he seems to have had better or just as good results in the tough stage races.

Kloden is awesome, I loved watching him with T Mobile.

I truly thought Levi would win the Vuelta in 2001 but alas he is a support rider.

 

[ravens]

Why doesn't Lance bring Kloden in as number 2 backup then. Way cooler guy and he seems to have had better or just as good results in the tough stage races.

Kloden is awesome, I loved watching him with T Mobile.

I truly thought Levi would win the Vuelta in 2001 but alas he is a support rider.

I would rather have Kloden in a pressure situation than LL.

 

[knewcleardaze]

I would rather have Kloden in a pressure situation than LL.

I'd have to agree.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

Is it possible that LL is getting stronger and more confident? Probably still no kick, but maybe a little less of the pussy factor?

 

[BikeCentric]

Is it possible that LL is getting stronger and more confident? Probably still no kick, but maybe a little less of the pussy factor?

We will have our answer by the end of Paris-Nice.

 

[Piston Pete]

An interesting question is, if LL won Paris-Nice and the Tour of California, would that make it less or more likely for him to support LA in the Tour?

Success here could make it harder for him to challenge for the Tour, because Armstrong will say his had his glory this year and now needs to work for the team. If he wins nothing, however, he will be chomping at the bit come July.

 

[flicker]

I don't know I think Andy Schleck might open a can of wup-*** on Levi in the Tour of California.

 

[Piston Pete]

I don't know I think Andy Schleck might open a can of wup-*** on Levi in the Tour of California.

Don't think Schleck will TT well enough though.

Speaking of TTs, did you see how keyed up LL looked on the start ramp at Paris-nice? He was actually shaking like he ODed on caffeine or something. Megga pumped.

 

[Publicus]

Don't think Schleck will TT well enough though.

Speaking of TTs, did you see how keyed up LL looked on the start ramp at Paris-nice? He was actually shaking like he ODed on caffeine or something. Megga pumped.

3 degrees Celsius without the windchill will do that to you.

 

[BYOP88]

An interesting question is, if LL won Paris-Nice and the Tour of California, would that make it less or more likely for him to support LA in the Tour?

Success here could make it harder for him to challenge for the Tour, because Armstrong will say his had his glory this year and now needs to work for the team. If he wins nothing, however, he will be chomping at the bit come July.

Regardless of what Levi wins or doesn't win before July will have no bearing on his role for the Tour, everyone including Levi knows that he'll be trying to keep Lance in the same zip code as Contador, baby Schleck and a few others.

 

[Piston Pete]

3 degrees Celsius without the windchill will do that to you.

He was the only rider I saw shaking like that.

 

[Piston Pete]

Regardless of what Levi wins or doesn't win before July will have no bearing on his role for the Tour, everyone including Levi knows that he'll be trying to keep Lance in the same zip code as Contador, baby Schleck and a few others.

Well you're right - it is LA's hand picked team so they all know what the deal is. I just think LL would be more happy to do that if he won a few things beforehand.

That said, if LA is well off the pace he might not wait so long this time to handover the lead. He might say the Tour is now out of my reach but I will try to win one of the other grand tours before I retire.

 

[flicker]

I can see Andy putting some major pain on everyone in the Big Bear Stage.

He probably won't win ToC but my guess on that stage he will show us something.

 

[Publicus]

He was the only rider I saw shaking like that.

Oh, well why didn't you say that before. If he was the only one doing that it must have been because he was chomping at the bit to go!

I spy with my little eye....

 

[BroDeal]

 

[richwagmn]

That said, I've never seen anyone so pumped up for the start of a race. he was literally shaking with adrenaline on the ramp.

Perhaps this is because it's one of his few chances to be off the leash this year (California possibly another?), but I don't think any Shack rider will be under any illusions as to their role come July.

Which Levi should have known when he signed with RS. He won't be given a chance to go for the win in the TDF. He's delusional if he thinks he won't be LA's toady. Shame too. He could have been more.

 

[franciep10]

Which Levi should have known when he signed with RS. He won't be given a chance to go for the win in the TDF. He's delusional if he thinks he won't be LA's toady. Shame too. He could have been more.

What do you mean more, he just doesn't have the mental make up to win a GT, he is a great domestique and he can win week long stage races and that's it don't know why though

 

[richwagmn]

What do you mean more, he just doesn't have the mental make up to win a GT, he is a great domestique and he can win week long stage races and that's it don't know why though

I guess I wouldn't argue with that. He was physically the equal of AC in AC's Vuelta win. Guess he likes his roll.

I'm saying he physically has the ability.

 

[flicker]

Which Levi should have known when he signed with RS. He won't be given a chance to go for the win in the TDF. He's delusional if he thinks he won't be LA's toady. Shame too. He could have been more.

Levi made one mistake. He turned pro to late. Major talent. Coulda been a contender. He was smoking people in the US long ago.

 

[BroDeal]

Levi made one mistake. He turned pro to late. Major talent. Coulda been a contender. He was smoking people in the US long ago.

Middling U.S. pro whose 2001 Vuelta performance was laughed at because of how ridiculous it was.