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Popovych - Maybe he is paid by someone else

May 26, 2009
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Perhaps that may explain why he ruined Levi's chance to podium! The guy attacks, only to be caught by his team leader and not be able to provide any support to him on the last climb. What a waste!

I feel sorry for Levi. His personality is kind, and because of it, people trample on him. The DS for the Astana Team should be reprimanded also for allowing such a ridiculous move on such an important stage! Levi would have benefitted to have a couple riders around him. The only one that acted like a teammate was Lance.
 
Mar 18, 2009
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Pursuit said:
Perhaps that may explain why he ruined Levi's chance to podium! The guy attacks, only to be caught by his team leader and not be able to provide any support to him on the last climb. What a waste!

I feel sorry for Levi. His personality is kind, and because of it, people trample on him. The DS for the Astana Team should be reprimanded also for allowing such a ridiculous move on such an important stage! Levi would have benefitted to have a couple riders around him. The only one that acted like a teammate was Lance.

Are you sure you didn't switch the names "Lance" and "Popovych" on that post? :eek:
 
Mar 18, 2009
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Levi is not good enough, plain and simple. Popovych ... well, he showed what a fine talent he is/was at Silence-Lotto.
 

whiteboytrash

BANNED
Mar 17, 2009
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....and to think Popo once finished 3rd in the Giro. I think the question should be "which doctor should Popo pay to get his form back".

When Sastre caught him yesterday he just shook his head. He could do no more. Friggin hot day. Astana can't even buy a stage win. What company would want to sponsor them ?
 
May 25, 2009
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Well, as far as I saw Armstrong was trying to regain contact with the maglia rosa group, when Leipheimer was already distanced. Only when he was dropped for good did he went back for Levi. As he is professional in listening to team car, he must have known that Levi blew.

As for Popo, well, with 10km to go on the last climb, he was still appeared like he could win the stage. Should have he sat up with almost 5minutes lead??

Mencov was without teammates, but with 3 very good riders all attacking him, one at a time. He managed it very well. Leipheimer couldn't, simple as that. When you blow for good, no teammates can help you back to the leaders.
 
Apr 28, 2009
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whiteboytrash said:
would want to sponsor them ?
This is an interesting question. To me, it seems that two people are responsible for Astana's media coverage - Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador. And I would think media coverage is the essential aspect of cycling for any sponsor.

If an Astana rider wins the TdF - the economic value for the sponsors should be secure. If not - they are a team of GT-top 10 riders and their team mates.
 
Mar 19, 2009
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Without being there.... no one knows what Astana's tactics were with Popo. You just can't say.

Levi looks tired. How could he not be? Look at all the racing he did before the Giro.... then hop on plane a few days before the start. I don't know about you.... but I'd be wiped just from the travel. If anything..... it shows a underestimation on his part of the value of rest.


I find it ironic anyone that criticizes a pro rider...... like they really have a f'n clue how hard it really is!
 
Apr 9, 2009
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I wonder if Armstrong will be on Twitter saying how much Levi has to learn by bonking on a major stage in a GT.
Maybe its just Contador he slags off.
 
Mar 11, 2009
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Pursuit said:
Perhaps that may explain why he ruined Levi's chance to podium! The guy attacks, only to be caught by his team leader and not be able to provide any support to him on the last climb. What a waste!

I feel sorry for Levi. His personality is kind, and because of it, people trample on him. The DS for the Astana Team should be reprimanded also for allowing such a ridiculous move on such an important stage! Levi would have benefitted to have a couple riders around him. The only one that acted like a teammate was Lance.

Levi ruined Levi's chance on the podium. Not Popo, not a flat tire, Not Armstrong. Basso, Sastre, Diluca, Menchov attacked, Levi blew up. No amount of team mates would have helped Levi..he's done for this year's Giro.
 
May 25, 2009
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Somehow I feel Contador don't want to stay in the Armstrong's team.
He can be number one elsewhere, but with Armstrong onboard he is only 2nd even if he has better results.
 
Apr 19, 2009
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avantage said:
Somehow I feel Contador don't want to stay in the Armstrong's team.
He can be number one elsewhere, but with Armstrong onboard he is only 2nd even if he has better results.

Spoken like a true armchair captain.......

why does everyone seem to think they know what is going on and what descions are being made.
 
May 19, 2009
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I watched on tv and if the timing of different camera shots was accurate, this is what I think happened.

When Popo went to the team car he was told Levi was having a bad day. He immediately attacked and started riding like a stage win was his goal and not a leap frog helper for Levi on the last climb.

Then later, Lance rode strong tempo up to the leaders and I think that was two fold. To sit on if he could and frustrate them into slowing or at least to not go so smooth AND fast. And to ride into a good group to preserve Astana's team lead. Once he was dropped (the leaders attacked hard as soon as he got there), there was nothing left but to go back and help Levi get to the finish. Again preserving a nice lead in the team race.

When you pop 2 km into a 10 km climb after the first attack, the writing is on the wall. YOU'RE DONE! I don't say this because I'm not a Levi fan, because I am a Levi fan. I say it because I'm a racer and I know if that happens I'm done for.

Maybe the mechanical just made it happen one or two attackes earlier??

It looked for a minute there like the angry young texan was back. Nice to see again. He should be one big helper for Alberto in July.
 
May 26, 2009
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There was simply nothing Popo could have done for Levi. He had Armstrong to help him and you don't need two guys on a mountain that hard. There's no draft so the only thing the guy in front is doing is pacing you.

IF Levi would've had the strenght to attack, then maybe but even in that case he might've been too tired to help.
 
Apr 24, 2009
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How thick are people?...Popovych went up the road so Armstrong and Limphomer could sit in and not aid the chase....trouble was neither had the legs come the end. God basic road racing tactics...get with it!!

At the end of the day Limphomer didnt have it and lost his own podium place.
 
Mar 10, 2009
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Jacques Tati said:
How thick are people?...Popovych went up the road so Armstrong and Limphomer could sit in and not aid the chase....trouble was neither had the legs come the end. God basic road racing tactics...get with it!!

At the end of the day Limphomer didnt have it and lost his own podium place.

Limphomer, now that's a new one :D, well done.

As for tactics, if its as you said, they're toast at this year's Giro, they are not up to par. They need to instead work for some stage wins.
 
Apr 29, 2009
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They were so so strong earlier in the race. Armstrong had the luxury of 3 domestiques for his dropping on Siusi, and Levi had Horner and Popo for a while up ahead. Thats 7 riders. Such strength in depth, but the leader just doesnt have the legs.
 
Mar 17, 2009
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pacing leipheimer

Did anyone pace Leipheimer up after his mechanical? It looked to me like he was on his own from what I remember. I would think you would want your guy to expend as little energy as possible to get back in the mix.

In addition, why did Armstrong leave him to go with the first group? He's too far back to make a difference, and Leipheimer even thanks him saying that if he didn't drop back he would have lost much more time. If that is the case, why didn't he stick by him and try and pace him back up?
 
Apr 12, 2009
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I think he was paced up but I can't be sure. Do you realize that to you guys they can do nothing right all we want to do is criticize them. I think last year they were a well liked team but since LA returned they went to hated, I like their team structure contador is one of my favourite riders, so is popo and levi, and look out for dayachenko. Do you people really think that LA can challenge Contador their is no way. Levi just didn't have the legs simple.
 
Apr 29, 2009
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Whether Lance has the legs is not the question, its whether he will allow Contador to lead. He certainly looks better then I expected. Come July he may play the patron card on Contador and assume lead of the team whether he is stronger or not.
 
Ibanez said:
Whether Lance has the legs is not the question, its whether he will allow Contador to lead. He certainly looks better then I expected. Come July he may play the patron card on Contador and assume lead of the team whether he is stronger or not.

Let's hope Contador has the cojones to ride for himself. I can see Armstrong attacking on an early climb, hoping that Contador will play by the rules and not go after a teammate. In subsequent stages the team would then support Armstrong because he would be the team's leading GC rider.

Contador should take the earliest opportunity to stick a knife in Armstrong.
 
May 26, 2009
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BroDeal said:
Let's hope Contador has the cojones to ride for himself. I can see Armstrong attacking on an early climb, hoping that Contador will play by the rules and not go after a teammate. In subsequent stages the team would then support Armstrong because he would be the team's leading GC rider.

Contador should take the earliest opportunity to stick a knife in Armstrong.

I'll believe it when I see it but I just can't see Armstrong besting Contador in the mountains. At least not this year. And now that Contador has learned to TT I think the TdF is his to lose. Armstrong has shown in this Giro that he is strong and getting stronger by the day but Contador should still be way above him when the road gets steeper.