How long can Levi keep it in his pants?

[Hugh Januss]

Thanks for the link.

How does a guy at this level start a bike race with his saddle height wrong?

He's got a lot to learn.

 

[Wallace]

If you see the race photos, the problem wasn't so much the seatpost height as that he rode most of the race without a saddle, and didn't notice--because that's just what it feels like to ride on Armstrong's team.

 

[BroDeal]

If you see the race photos, the problem wasn't so much the seatpost height as that he rode most of the race without a saddle, and didn't notice--because that's just what it feels like to ride on Armstrong's team.

LOL. Very good.

 

[knewcleardaze]

When Levi was interviewed a few times at last year's Tour, two things came to mind-

1) It was obvious he was backing Armstrong and...

2) he always had that stupid grin on his face, as if backing Armstrong was better than supporting one's team leader.

He made his bed with Radio Shack. He's been a team leader on two previous occasions and came up short.

He's not going to do a damn thing this year except win the ToC. Big deal. I guess it is, if you compare it to what Floyd Landis is going through.

And if Levi wins anything else, it won't be at the Tour, where it matters.

Well said. That's how it appears to me.
That dumb smirk of his when he's with Armstrong speaks volumes.

 

[flicker]

Thanks for the link.

How does a guy at this level start a bike race with his saddle height wrong?

Its all about the tow uphill, um I mean seat adjustment. rear derralieur adjustments are needed often and of course the riders cannot pedal at that time.

 

[595RED]

In that situation, Levi will just continue to ride along Armstrong because he probably wouldn't be able to match the accelerations from the Schlecks. He's a good climber, but not even close to being in their league and nothing that he has shown thus far makes me think that he can hang with the best on the steepest climbs.

Let's not forget how last year at the Giro, Levi was planning on attacking to get back the time that he lost to Menchov in the long TT. How did that turn out?

Levi is a great rider, one of the best that get weighed up as contenders every season. But seriously if he was GT winning material he would have done it by now given all of the opportunities he has had.

Cali is his level. Home turf and Euros that are looking to July to peak.

 

[Angliru]

Interesting that in Horner's report on stage 5 he criticizes the Astana team more than once but in his report on stage 4 there is no mention of his own team's dismal performance. Actually there is very little mention of his team at all. I guess when the news is bad its best to just pretend it didn't happen and ignore it.

 

[Berzin]

I guess when the news is bad its best to just pretend it didn't happen and ignore it.

Speaking of bad news, isn't Leipheimer 3 minutes and 57 seconds down on Contador at Paris-Nice?

It must be good to be the king of the ToC, what with all those downhill mountaintop finishes, neutralized stages and b-list competition to really challenge him.

 

[blackcat]

Speaking of bad news, isn't Leipheimer 3 minutes and 57 seconds down on Contador at Paris-Nice?

It must be good to be the king of the ToC, what with all those downhill mountaintop finishes, neutralized stages and b-list competition to really challenge him.

yeah, its tough when you are one blood bag down on capacity

 

[Tangled Tango]

If you see the race photos, the problem wasn't so much the seatpost height as that he rode most of the race without a saddle, and didn't notice--because that's just what it feels like to ride on Armstrong's team.

That´s the best one in a long while!

 

[ravens]

yeah, its tough when you are one blood bag down on capacity

Paging Dr Ferrari, code Yellow to the Shack. Dr Ferrari, code Yellow to the Shack.

(Sig not shown for obvious reasons)

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

If you see the race photos, the problem wasn't so much the seatpost height as that he rode most of the race without a saddle, and didn't notice--because that's just what it feels like to ride on Armstrong's team.

LOL. Gold, Jerry, gold!

 

[ravens]

Speaking of bad news, isn't Leipheimer 3 minutes and 57 seconds down on Contador at Paris-Nice?

It must be good to be the king of the ToC, what with all those downhill mountaintop finishes, neutralized stages and b-list competition to really challenge him.

A win is a win.

But to be serious for as little time as absolutely necessary, it is common in sports to build confidence by beating the sn0t out of lesser opponents.

Take a look at college schedules of major teams.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Levi had very good form from September 2008 to March 2009.

LMAO. Some good material in this thread.

 

[ravens]

Horner provides the explanation:



Good read, by the way:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/horner/2010/03/chris_horners_team_radioshack_5.html

Radio Shack wins all 3 steps on the podium for excuses, rationalizations and under-achievement. And the team classification is the one that really matters.

 

[flicker]

hi this is the shack, please be gentle

 

[gatete]

Thanks for the link.

How does a guy at this level start a bike race with his saddle height wrong?

Is it just me or Chris just talks about Astana, I guess he wants to go back pretty badly ***** in the armor, guys going back when it went up hill, Caisse d'pargne chassing? I mean seems like he's being told what to say to bring the party down.

 

[Angliru]

In the Vuelta I remember top riders being towed back to the favorites after mechanicals. Dale Stetina being towed and motorpaced back to the group after being dropped in the Aspen cup. Cavendish and Cioppolini being towed back to the bunch after a crash 3 miles before finish in the ToC and then taking first and third in the sprint. Typical stage race ettiquette.

Anyway I do not think that rule bending was designed specifically for Levi.

If I recall correctly in the Vuelta the top riders were penalized (Mozquera being one) for the tow. Can't recall the other.

Cavendish and Cippo were penalized for their tow in ToC. So what is your point?

 

[Angliru]

Best American riders, Farrar,Phinney, Levi.

Phinney is not in the equation until he competes in Europe against the best.
Vandevelde is more worthy of being included in this listing with his 2 top ten placings in the past 2 Tours and his Giro stage win.

I agree though that the ToC for me is a quite minor race whose results have pretty much no bearing on anything that happens in the real races that proceed it. At most it gives an idea of a rider's form in the ITT's but otherwise the overall terrain even with the addition of this year's supposed MTF (neutered for safety) isn't challenging enough and the general low emphasis that most Pro Tour teams place on it makes it a weeklong working vacation in Cali for most of the participants. How much this changes with the move to May remains to be seen. I'll personally be completely focused on the Giro.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If I recall correctly in the Vuelta the top riders were penalized (Mozquera being one) for the tow. Can't recall the other.

Cavendish and Cippo were penalized for their tow in ToC. So what is your point?

cadel for the drink bottle!

 

[Angliru]

cadel for the drink bottle!

I thought it may have been Cadel but I couldn't quite remember. Now if I recall correctly though they (he and Mozquera) were both penalized for their infractions on the same stage, thus eliminating the opportunity to blame it on a Spanish led conspiracy.

 

[Glockers]

After his Paris Nice performances the question is not whether Levi can keep it in his pants, it is whether he can get up for it at all.

 

[thehog]

After his Paris Nice performances the question is not whether Levi can keep it in his pants, it is whether he can get up for it at all.

Didn't the AFLD find Viagra in the Astana trash last year? Must have been Levi's supply.

 

[ravens]

Didn't the AFLD find Viagra in the Astana trash last year? Must have been Levi's supply.

It wasn't viagra. It was extenze.

It has really gone to Levi's head.