Leipheimer downplays chances at Kindergarten race, takes lead

[Cozy Beehive]

How impressive.

Kindergarten race?

Remember, cycling is the easiest endurance sport when pursued from the armchair. Try racing the Tour of Utah sometime.

 

[woodburn]

You argue that Indurain never won a mountain stage, only ITT's and I countered that with that knowledge he also never allowed someone else to do all the work and then snatch all the glory at the end of the stage. I never found Indurain boring likely because of his generous nature. I appreciated him for this.

You must not have watched Luz-Ardiden from 1990. Not that LeMond cared much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=702mu0o3xXY

 

[Cobblestoned]

You must not have watched Luz-Ardiden from 1990. Not that LeMond cared much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=702mu0o3xXY

These bobbing pounders are/were really ugly to watch for gourmets like me.
But at least Miguel is still able to show some elegance.

 

[ManInFull]

Kindergarten race?

Remember, cycling is the easiest endurance sport when pursued from the armchair. Try racing the Tour of Utah sometime.

I think most of us understand that stage races are technically difficult. Levi always does extremely well when the level of competition is not very impressive--thus "kindergarten".

 

[boardhanger]

I think most of us understand that stage races are technically difficult. Levi always does extremely well when the level of competition is not very impressive--thus "kindergarten".

....as does the rest of the peleton. Your point?

 

[flicker]

I think most of us understand that stage races are technically difficult. Levi always does extremely well when the level of competition is not very impressive--thus "kindergarten".

what? Please try to ride those roads, much less at full bore.

 

[michaeld]

what? Please try to ride those roads at much less than full bore.

Fixed that for you.

 

[Kwibus]

Reading is sooo hard sometimes.

It's kindergarten because the competition is below Leipheimers level. The tour of Utah is a fantastic race with great and very tough stages. Would love to see a stronger field on it.

It's really not that hard to understand.

 

[flicker]

Reading is sooo hard sometimes.

It's kindergarten because the competition is below Leipheimers level. The tour of Utah is a fantastic race with great and very tough stages. Would love to see a stronger field on it.

It's really not that hard to understand.

In order for the competition to improve it is essential to put a higher level of riders there to set the bar for the lower riders.
It is not about the glory of first place as much as having the domestic pros race at higher level at altitude against a top 10 tour competitor. It is not about Levis ego or smashing down the domestic pros egos.

 

[dgodave]

I'm fine with pointing out the problems with various American bike races.

But the tendency toward ridicule makes me a little sick.

 

[flicker]

I'm fine with pointing out the problems with various American bike races.

But the tendency toward ridicule makes me a little sick.

The one thing which wins me over with the euro scene is that the riders have personalities. I don't put down the domestic riders but.... With the American pros the only ones who have stood out for me are tyler hamilton Hamilton,the guy with tattoo on face, lance, dave z. t. phinney, I think for cycling to become more popular here you need stand out guys like jens, andy and F shleck cancellara, kloden ulrich etc. Except for Ben and Andy Jauques Maines I do not follow to many American riders, as they do not have personality. And LeMond with his personality I could not get into following him.

 

[BroDeal]

In order for the competition to improve it is essential to put a higher level of riders there to set the bar for the lower riders.
It is not about the glory of first place as much as having the domestic pros race at higher level at altitude against a top 10 tour competitor. It is not about Levis ego or smashing down the domestic pros egos.

It surely is about Leecheimer smashing the domestic pros after failing completely against riders in his own division. One problem that racing in the U.S. has always had is one dominant team sucking up all the oxygen. It has never been a healthy environment. A potential sponsor wants the opportunity for his team to win. No one wants to put up the money so that their team can be pack fodder. A win in a race like Utah by a small team can be huge and go a long way toward securing continued sponsorship. For a Pro Tour team it is nothing but a reminder about how pathetic their European campaign turned out to be.

There seems to be a trend with Leipheimer. After losing in California when a Pro Tour team showed up with intents of competing for the GC, he is moving eastward, beating up on amateurs in Leadville and domestic pros in Utah. You guys on the east coast should be on the lookout. He may show up at your Wednesday night time trial...provided no Cat 1s enter.

 

[dgodave]

The one thing which wins me over with the euro scene is that the riders have personalities. I don't put down the domestic riders but.... With the American pros the only ones who have stood out for me are tyler hamilton Hamilton,the guy with tattoo on face, lance, dave z. t. phinney, I think for cycling to become more popular here you need stand out guys like jens, andy and F shleck cancellara, kloden ulrich etc. Except for Ben and Andy Jauques Maines I do not follow to many American riders, as they do not have personality. And LeMond with his personality I could not get into following him.

I suspect there's a lot of "personality" in the American scene... but like the racing, the riders are also somewhat under the radar.

Either way, American races are certainly not above criticism... but the ridicule is over the top... sickening actually, when I think of the sponsors, the promoters, the whole effort to get something going... Its almost like people would just rather American racing goes away.

(And Kloden.... a standout personality? Really?)

 

[flicker]

I suspect there's a lot of "personality" in the American scene... but like the racing, the riders are also somewhat under the radar.

Either way, American races are certainly not above criticism... but the ridicule is over the top... sickening actually, when I think of the sponsors, the promoters, the whole effort to get something going... Its almost like people would just rather American racing goes away.

(And Kloden.... a standout personality? Really?)

Maybe it is the way that cycling is promoted that needs to be changed. In a way that Americans would appreciate. #1 priority I would say is to televise races like Utah and have announcers the fans are interested in listening to. I do not even know if that race was televised locally. For me as a kid I loved listening to pro baseball on the radio for instance. The players the game the announcers their nuances etc.
Sorry for the Kloden reference. I am a personal fan. Here is another example of a star, Vinokurov. He reminds me a lot of Manny Rodriguez.
Levi I will never be a fan of. I have to give him credit though he is 2nd best American rider after Tyler Farrar. Why is he not promoted?

 

[Angliru]

I have to give him credit though he is 2nd best American rider after Tyler Farrar. Why is he not promoted?

If you're going by this current season's performances Leipheimer would fall to about 4th behind Horner, Farrar and LA. He's got a podium in ToC and a win at Tour of Utah. I don't think he has any results to speak in Europe this year.
I think prior to this season he would've been 3rd to Farrar and LA based on last season's results.

 

[flicker]

If you're going by this current season's performances Leipheimer would fall to about 4th behind Horner, Farrar and LA. He's got a podium in ToC and a win at Tour of Utah. I don't think he has any results to speak in Europe this year.
I think prior to this season he would've been 3rd to Farrar and LA based on last season's results.

The leadville record moved levi up to knotches hee hee. He has won the 2nd largest GT in the world 3X also.

 

[Angliru]

The leadville record moved levi up to knotches hee hee. He has won the 2nd largest GT in the world 3X also.

He'd be wise to race a strictly domestic schedule next year. I don't see him getting any results in Europe based on what he showed us this year. Was there anything spoken on what happened to him at this year's Tour? Max Testa was saying that Leipheimer was in the form of his life going into the Tour. I was expecting him to be climbing with the 2nd tier of contenders. Unlike Basso, Sastre, Evans and Vino he didn't have the Giro in his legs to effect his Tour performance.

 

[kurtinsc]

If you're going by this current season's performances Leipheimer would fall to about 4th behind Horner, Farrar and LA. He's got a podium in ToC and a win at Tour of Utah. I don't think he has any results to speak in Europe this year.
I think prior to this season he would've been 3rd to Farrar and LA based on last season's results.

Not great results certainly. 13th in the Tour, 10th in the Tour de Suisse, 4th in Algarve.

 

[flicker]

He'd be wise to race a strictly domestic schedule next year. I don't see him getting any results in Europe based on what he showed us this year. Was there anything spoken on what happened to him at this year's Tour? Max Testa was saying that Leipheimer was in the form of his life going into the Tour. I was expecting him to be climbing with the 2nd tier of contenders. Unlike Basso, Sastre, Evans and Vino he didn't have the Giro in his legs to effect his Tour performance.

Since Levi was not so good on the Toumelet and in the Tour TTs I would say he had a bad year. I would not say he is done as a top tier Amer/Euro pro though. Anyone can have a bad year and 13th is pretty good in the Tour. To his credit Levi admitted that he gave it his best on the Toumelet and that was not good enough. He was humble. Maybe next year for Levi. I love seeing him in the Sea Otter in 2009, Levi was pulling the whole pack around Laguna Seca, lap after lap. Great rider.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I think Levi may have done something at the Vuelta if RS had been invited. He's certainly on good form right now.

 

[kurtinsc]

I think Levi may have done something at the Vuelta if RS had been invited. He's certainly on good form right now.

I didn't think he was on their projected start list. I thought it was Brajkovic/Horner as co-leaders as the plan.

 

[Angliru]

Not great results certainly. 13th in the Tour, 10th in the Tour de Suisse, 4th in Algarve.

I'd forgotten about his 4th in Algarve. That's pretty good.

 

[kurtinsc]

I'd forgotten about his 4th in Algarve. That's pretty good.

Is it?

I'm never sure how to rate non-wins in races like that. I know enought to rate a win in a race like the Dauphine Libere over a win in something like Algrave... but how does a 4th place compare? 10th in the DL? 15th?

I've never been able to wrap my head around something like that.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I didn't think he was on their projected start list. I thought it was Brajkovic/Horner as co-leaders as the plan.

Not sure about Jani in a 3-week tour yet, although I love watching that kid climb.

 

[Angliru]

Is it?

I'm never sure how to rate non-wins in races like that. I know enought to rate a win in a race like the Dauphine Libere over a win in something like Algrave... but how does a 4th place compare? 10th in the DL? 15th?

I've never been able to wrap my head around something like that.

Supposedly it was the first race of the season for the Shack squad, according to one of the stage reports with competition consisting of Samuel Sanchez (I think was 5th), Contador (Overall winner), Luis Leon Sanchez
(2nd overall), Kloden and Joaquim Rodriguez. Leipheimer did reasonably well in the queen stage (3rd) and the final stage ITT (4th). I think Tiago Machado was in better form (2nd overall) at the time.

I was trying to give the little Leprechaun and a bit of credit here.