Radioshack in top team position

[bobs nob]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/horner/2010/07/tour_de_france_stage_13_chris.html

Okay, at least it seems Levi has not been completely forsaken, but seriously, two teammates with Armstrong? What the hell?

One on each side in case he falls.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Lance spreading the anti-cancer message by immediately doing a U-turn after finishing and running to the team bus.

 

[flicker]

Leading the team race is a minor prize but if its all you can get fine. But its not all they could get. Levi so far is doing pretty well, at best he is top 10 tdf material. He might be boring but he is still up there. Doing far better than I expected. Shack should be totally looking after him even if he is likely to be screwed in the next stages.

So instead the shack waste effort chasing down Astana moves? And then the Hog makes a special point of pretty stupid criticism of Contador!

Hilarious.

It looks like now that LA is showing his age and lack of bloods (or perhaps this year they did not work so well) the Shack have no other agenda than settling old LA feuds. Despite all the team talk its only about LA - Levi does not seem to count even if he gets a good finish - maybe Levi is getting above himself beating LA in his rainbow tour.

Lets see how supportive LA and the team commitment is for Levi in the next stages.

they chased down sanchez and vino on the climb. I believe those 2 are threats to Levis' position. Please check Horners Blog. By the way how long have you been following cycling?

 

[Hugh Januss]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/horner/2010/07/tour_de_france_stage_13_chris.html

Okay, at least it seems Levi has not been completely forsaken, but seriously, two teammates with Armstrong? What the hell?

It is important to protect his 36th place in the overall. Or maybe they stay with him to make sure he doesn't miss the time cut?

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I think flicker is right here. RS had to chase LLS and Vino.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Team Classification Stage 14:
1. CAISSE D’EPARGNE 204h 16' 00"
2. TEAM RADIOSHACK 204h 16' 08" + 00' 08"

 

[BroDeal]

Team Classification Stage 14:
1. CAISSE D’EPARGNE 204h 16' 00"
2. TEAM RADIOSHACK 204h 16' 08" + 00' 08"

RS will gain a lot in the time trial, so they are looking good right now.

 

[ScottyMuser]

RS will gain a lot in the time trial, so they are looking good right now.

Not sure how much thats an issue, as they will probably lose a LOT in the next 3 mountain stages. Either way, it's not a good sign where the so-called best team are having to duke it out with a bunch of Spanish mountain goats who don't even have their team leader or half their squad here (for varying reasons) for the team title.

 

[Benotti69]

Not sure how much thats an issue, as they will probably lose a LOT in the next 3 mountain stages. Either way, it's not a good sign where the so-called best team are having to duke it out with a bunch of Spanish mountain goats who don't even have their team leader or half their squad here (for varying reasons) for the team title.

that really puts how pathetic this RadioSmackHeads team is? after all the big talk and their put down of contador last year it really is pathetic of JB coming out with all this ludicrous crap every day.

Wonder how many of the younger ones are looking for a way out to another team. Brakovitch would do well to go somewhere else quick

 

[theyoungest]

RS will gain a lot in the time trial, so they are looking good right now.

Caisse have Luis Leon Sanchez, Moreau, Gutierrez, Kiryienka... that's not a bad TT squad.

 

[Czerstwy Witold]

...Rui Costa-portugal national ITT champion

 

[hrotha]

Caisse have Luis Leon Sanchez, Moreau, Gutierrez, Kiryienka... that's not a bad TT squad.

Kiryienka is not bad at anything it would seem. Damn I love that guy.

 

[scribe]

I think Levi's form is played out. They will have to think top 10 in individual GC for him at best. He was probably looking ahead to the Vuelta as a possibility and not so much the tour. I see RS really focusing on the team GC at this point. Stage wins is probably the most feasible way of biting into enough time.

 

[Mellow Velo]

I think it's not only Levi that is reaching the raggedy edge of his form, all the super Shack climbers look burnt out.
Jani Brajkovic has done a major Mayo, here: terrible performance after the Dauphine.

In a flat 50km ITT, it could go either way. The Shack could pull it together, but Caisse have some solid trialists.

Lulu could give the goog 'ol boys a bit of a headache, tomorrow.

 

[Cobblestones]

I think it's as simple as old age catching up with them. Kloden for instance used to stay with the leaders much longer. And of course, maybe they've eased off the hot sauce.

 

[RedsharkO]

I think Levi's form is played out. They will have to think top 10 in individual GC for him at best. He was probably looking ahead to the Vuelta as a possibility and not so much the tour. I see RS really focusing on the team GC at this point. Stage wins is probably the most feasible way of biting into enough time.

Sorry, no chance in Vuelta for Levi´s. RS was not invited to this year Vuelta.

 

[scribe]

Sorry, no chance in Vuelta for Levi´s. RS was not invited to this year Vuelta.

Yes. Everyone has gotten the memo. RS is not nearly strong enough a team. Not even close. Probably more about doping...as we all know the Spanish are hawkish about that.

 

[bobs nob]

Yes. Everyone has gotten the memo. RS is not nearly strong enough a team. Not even close. Probably more about doping...as we all know the Spanish are hawkish about that.

So what is your honest assessment of Radio Shack's tour?

 

[breakaway92]

If you have a bunch of domestiques wearing themselves out and finishing miles behind the leader because they have worked hard to get their leader to a top gc position, they will be low on the team competition because of it.

The team competition in the tour is basically a prize for the team with the crappest gc contender.

Astana won in 09, Discovery channel in 07, team telekom in 97,

 

[Big GMaC]

Kiryienka is not bad at anything it would seem. Damn I love that guy.

And is that a mullet sneaking out the back of his helmet?

 

[La Pandera]

I think Levi's form is played out. They will have to think top 10 in individual GC for him at best. He was probably looking ahead to the Vuelta as a possibility and not so much the tour. I see RS really focusing on the team GC at this point. Stage wins is probably the most feasible way of biting into enough time.

Levi has repeatedly stated in the past that he holds out hope and belief that he can win the Tour. For him to come into the Tour looking to peak for the Vuelta is absurd. For Leipheimer its all about the Tour its just that I think Father Time is tapping on his shoulder. No way he loses ToC unless he's on that downward slope. Additionally considering how Armstrong was struggling with his form all season Bruyneel had to have instructed Leipheimer to be ready just in case.

 

[La Pandera]

I think it's as simple as old age catching up with them. Kloden for instance used to stay with the leaders much longer. And of course, maybe they've eased off the hot sauce.

Kloden's having his typical off Tour year. He's on he's off that's his history, I just can't explain why that is.

 

[La Pandera]

Yes. Everyone has gotten the memo. RS is not nearly strong enough a team. Not even close. Probably more about doping...as we all know the Spanish are hawkish about that.

So you knew this and yet you said Leipheimer was focused on the Vuelta?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Kloden's having his typical off Tour year. He's on he's off that's his history, I just can't explain why that is.

luc leblanc had the exact same thing but even worse. weird stuff...

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think we need any more Armstrong/RS threads in the Professional Road Racing part of the forum. Really, only threads in The Clinic are legitimate at this point. Talking about them as a factor in the race is just laughable. When your team's goal it the Team Competition and your former leader keeps losing time to go on some sad march to former glory instead of being the teammate he always claimed to be, it is best to just to discuss their real relevance. I am done talking about them here.