Leipheimer broken wrist thread

[hillytn]

too bad for Levi. was kinda rooting for him this year amidst all the other hoopla. wonder if they'd consider getting him to ride the Vuelta... might be too much racing though.

 

[Jayarbie]

It does. I'm all for having a single thread on this. Certainly, such a big name having to abandon is worthy of comment.
Let's just hope all the comments stay together?


I think Levi's abandonment signal's the death knell to Astana's podium whitewash, if indeed, they held that lofty ambition in the first place.

My guess was Kloden and Levi were going to share, "last man standing" duties, in the Astana train, through today and the Alpine/Ventoux stages.

Now, Kloden will have to shoulder this workload alone. This will put him right out of contension.

True, Zubeldia and Popovych will be burdened with the lion's share of mountain work, but they really should not be able to put the top contenders under the severest of pressure.
If the do, well, the usual suspicions will be raised.

I doubt they were really trying to sweep the podium. It's hard enough to get one rider on the podium, let alone two or sweep. This will definitely hurt their ability to dominate the Alps, though, and it will hurt Armstrong much more then Contador. Not because I think that there will be any sort of silly split of team allegiances, but for the simple fact that Contador needs less protection in the mountains. We've already seen him ride away from the peloton with ease once in Andorra.

 

[Anonymous]

I have referred to LL as Lance's "accessory dog," but never want to see someone out because of a crash. I love to see riders like him drop off the back looking like they have been through a gauntlet of punches, but never like to see a crash take them out. Sportsmen never want to see that.

 

[jpowell]

First Leipheimer breaks his wrist, then the pope. I hadn't realised the pope was riding.

 

[hfer07]

very sorry for his forced departure--speedy recovery---
That's really bad news for LA-he was his top trusted man in the group

 

[jaylew]

I like Levi, so I'm disappointed for him, but I have to admit it might make for a more interesting race. Anything that weakens Astana will probably be good for the racing which for the most part has been crap so far.

 

[richwagmn]

Yep. My only disappointment is that it wasn't Lance.

I'm speechless.

 

[Futuroscope]

The forum nazis are strong, here

The more interesting take here, I think, is how it changes Astana tactics and the Armstrong/Contador rivalry. You've lost a key player, can they still train them along to make it a two-horse race on Ventoux?

Does Contador now go try to lay the smack down today to subjogate Armstrong to super-domestique? And if he doesn't, can Astana trying to ride both to the top now be exploited? I think so, and I bet JB didn't get much sleep tonight.

it weakens the team for sure. specially weakens the position for lance.

 

[mr. tibbs]

too bad for Levi. was kinda rooting for him this year amidst all the other hoopla. wonder if they'd consider getting him to ride the Vuelta... might be too much racing though.

I think Leipheimer's proven that he can stay strong all year. Then again, last year was different; he had a quieter spring, I guess.

Still, I think he'll be pretty competitve at the Vuelta. Maybe another podium.

 

[TrapperJohn]

Looks like this Tour wasn't decided by the TTT after all.

To quote a hackneyed phrase from American baseball:

It ain't over, 'till it's over.

A pity about Levi, I was pulling for him, too. The Rodney Dangerfield of cycling, don't get no respect.

 

[Coach Hawk]

So now that he doesn't have the physical stress of the final week, and he can still ride (ala his trainer), does this set him up to ride for GC in the Vuelta?

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Maybe it's just me ... but is this whole "don't start new threads without checking other threads" thing getting a little over the top.

I mean, I would have thought this subject justifies its own thread and not just being buried in the Stage 13. Otherwise, perhaps we should just have one single thread called "Cycling".

Firstly - this is big news and does deserve its own thread.
It is a big blow to the Astana team but I still think the race is theirs to lose.

To Barb -I am one of those who advocates the "think before you start a new thread", you were here at the start of the Tour and all the new LA & Astana threads was getting over the top - often very good threads on the same subjects get pushed down the list. But since the separate thread on LA it has really tidied things up.

 

[richwagmn]

So now that he doesn't have the physical stress of the final week, and he can still ride (ala his trainer), does this set him up to ride for GC in the Vuelta?

Good point. Maybe even a win? Gotta think Horner will do the Vuelta. Then again, maybe Astana implodes before that point with Vino trying to come back.

Pretty sure we'll see Levi riding for the LA/Nike/JB team next year.

 

[hillytn]

I think Leipheimer's proven that he can stay strong all year. Then again, last year was different; he had a quieter spring, I guess.

Still, I think he'll be pretty competitve at the Vuelta. Maybe another podium.

agreed about his consistency. some rest and good training rides before race might work out well in his favor. one more possible GC guy for that race would make it better to watch IMO.

 

[Dr. Maserati]

First Leipheimer breaks his wrist, then the pope. I hadn't realised the pope was riding.

....ya, its quite a coincidence - both of God's right hand men break their wrists in the Alpes.

 

[mr. tibbs]

agreed about his consistency. some rest and good training rides before race might work out well in his favor. one more possible GC guy for that race would make it better to watch IMO.

The more I think about it, the better this might work out for Leipheimer. I think he'll finally get the Astana (or whoever) captain-ship at a GT now.

He was stronger than 95% of the field in the Tour, but he was forced to ride behind two other guys--one of whom (it could be argued, based on their results to date) he should have been ranked above.

He'll probably be in similar shape for the Vuelta, but he'll go into it wearing #1 for the team. Plus, he'll have a fresh Horner wearing #2 to help him out in the mountains.

I think Leipheimer may have just become one of the top favorites for the Vuelta.

 

[hfer07]

So now that he doesn't have the physical stress of the final week, and he can still ride (ala his trainer), does this set him up to ride for GC in the Vuelta?

I doubt he would- it's been a long season for him since the TOC. also you got to remember that Vinokourov is coming back to do the Vuelta....

 

[Archibald]

I'm speechless.

why? did you honestly think that no one was going to say this??

 

[BroDeal]

I doubt he would- it's been a long season for him since the TOC. also you got to remember that Vinokourov is coming back to do the Vuelta....

Will Contador defend his Vuelta title? I seem to remember different reports about whether he would ride the Spanish GT.

How competitive will Vino be? It has been some time. The Vuelta would be the first race he has done in more than two years. That sort of thing did not work out as well as expected for Basso.

 

[hillytn]

Will Contador defend his Vuelta title? I seem to remember different reports about whether he would ride the Spanish GT.

I would think so. I seem to remember reading that he was planning on riding, though I can't the find the article(s) to confirm. the tour's been bit a snoozer so far (relatively speaking, of course) so he's not expending too much energy -yet- and could have a pretty good shot at another double.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

So now that he doesn't have the physical stress of the final week, and he can still ride (ala his trainer), does this set him up to ride for GC in the Vuelta?

Apparently not.

American Levi Leipheimer had successful surgery on his broken wrist Friday, but said he may not be able to compete in major events again this year.

bit.ly/P9GYb

 

[Aapjes]

... but said he may not be able to compete in major events again this year.

That's probably too early to tell. It usually takes a little time to see how the break is healing, so he might be fine for the Vuelta. We'll probably know in a week or two.

 

[Coach Hawk]

Yeah, not sure why a broken wrist would be season ending--he can still maintain fitness on his trainer. I guess we'll see in a few weeks.

 

[euphrades]

Depends on what was done to the tendons and ligaments.....

 

[richwagmn]

Yeah, not sure why a broken wrist would be season ending--he can still maintain fitness on his trainer. I guess we'll see in a few weeks.

Twittering during surgery. Hardcore. I'd have asked to have been put out. Don't really want to see surgeons cutting me open.