Transfers "Rumours & Reality" and Young Guns

[TRDean]

“Definitely the idea of working with the young team and helping to build the program appealed to me,” Hincapie said in a team press release. “I know a lot of the American racers on the team already.” The American-Swiss squad is making a major bid for Pro-Tour status by also signing reigning world champion Alessandro Ballan.

“When we started with the idea of the BMC Racing Team, we had a plan which would one day elevate us to the highest level of professional racing,” said co-owners Jim Ochowicz and Andy Rihs. “That day is today.”

For Hincapie, perhaps that day came back on July 19th in Besancon, France. The day he decided he’d never ride with Lance again.

- In other words Lance is a khunt.

Nice spelling there mr hog!! LA is definitely not a good guy!!

 

[Cobber]

I just read the article about Levi's joining Radio Shack. He said that his goal for 2010 is to win the TDF. What?!?! He rode the TDF with Astana this year. Didn't he see what went on between Lance and Alberto?!?! What makes him think that he has a snowball's chance of winning next year's TDF on a team that is being specifically designed for Lance? Or maybe he's talking about competing in some other unknown tour of france. Listen, Levi, in this year's tour, you proved to be pretty deep in Lance's pocket against Alberto. So, don't go fooling yourself with aspirations of winning the TDF next year. Alberto is a more qualified grand tour champion than either you or Lance, and you saw how Lance treated him. If you're riding for RS and planning to win next year's Tour, what makes you think that you'll even get a quarter of the respect that Lance gave Alberto? Your best chance of winning was in '07, and we all remember what happened there. I respect you as a racer, but come on...After all that Lance has done to show that those of us past 35 can still be competitive, why would you come out acting as though your memory is starting to fade?

+1..... Levi is absolutley delusional. Without major exclusions of several riders, he is a top-10 rider at best next year......

 

[mambo#5]

so, what's Levi supposed to say: "You know what, I'll never have the legs to win the TDF, so forget about it". yeah, right. Great pro he would be saying that.

What he said was that he'd like to win the tour if he's got the legs, nothing wrong with that IMO.

 

[TRDean]

so, what's Levi supposed to say: "You know what, I'll never have the legs to win the TDF, so forget about it". yeah, right. Great pro he would be saying that.

What he said was that he'd like to win the tour if he's got the legs, nothing wrong with that IMO.

You are a dusch!!!

 

[thehog]

No problems: Contador will show up at the Look booth for an autograph signing session at Eurobike then the later press conference.

Thanks Hog for the update.

 

[Publicus]

so, what's Levi supposed to say: "You know what, I'll never have the legs to win the TDF, so forget about it". yeah, right. Great pro he would be saying that.

What he said was that he'd like to win the tour if he's got the legs, nothing wrong with that IMO.

Was this qualifier in the Cycling News piece on the front page? I don't recall seeing it. That being said, whatever he thinks about winning the Tour, he'd better get out of his head quickly. This is Lance's team and if he's not prepared to show complete loyalty and deference to him and his aspirations, then he should rip up the contract now.

 

[Publicus]

Thanks Hog for the update.

Thanks Hog for the update.

 

[Anonymous]

so, what's Levi supposed to say: "You know what, I'll never have the legs to win the TDF, so forget about it". yeah, right. Great pro he would be saying that.

What he said was that he'd like to win the tour if he's got the legs, nothing wrong with that IMO.

Alternately: "I will obviously be riding for a fukher who will twitter like a little girl and stop speaking to me if I actually HAVE aspirations for winning the Tour. Of course we know that I will be required to wear a jersey that is 3 sizes to large for the bottle storage, and that Lance may let me out of the cute little handbag he keeps me in when I am not riding. Being an accessory dog has its privileges you know!"

 

[Cobber]

so, what's Levi supposed to say: "You know what, I'll never have the legs to win the TDF, so forget about it". yeah, right. Great pro he would be saying that.

What he said was that he'd like to win the tour if he's got the legs, nothing wrong with that IMO.

Well...... that would have been a much more realistic statement!

His best TdF result was in '07 when he finished 3rd and was 33 yrs old and riding in a race with a fairly weak field by recent standards. Next year, he will be 36, the field will likely be much stronger, and he will be riding on the same team with the most self-centered rider in history. Not a chance in hell of even making the podium imo.

 

[mambo#5]

Was this qualifier in the Cycling News piece on the front page? I don't recall seeing it. That being said, whatever he thinks about winning the Tour, he'd better get out of his head quickly. This is Lance's team and if he's not prepared to show complete loyalty and deference to him and his aspirations, then he should rip up the contract now.

The idea of RadioShack takes Leipheimer back to the Discovery Channel days, a team managed by Capital Sports and Entertainment and directed by Johan Bruyneel. "I'm very comfortable with this team and the way I view it is that it's the old Discovery Channel and Astana in the last two years," he said. "I'm comfortable there and I ride to my potential. I still want to win a lot of races and that's the team I feel I have the best chance to do that with. If I have the legs to win the Tour I want to be on this team."

I don't disagree with the premise that he knows is Lance's team, but my point merely is that people shouldn't lambast him for saying that he aspires to win the tour even as part of RadioShack. Lance could fall off the bike Horner style, or he could contract H1N1 before it and not be in form. Anything can happen.

 

[Publicus]

I don't disagree with the premise that he knows is Lance's team, but my point merely is that people shouldn't lambast him for saying that he aspires to win the tour even as part of RadioShack. Lance could fall off the bike Horner style, or he could contract H1N1 before it and not be in form. Anything can happen.

There will be a singular focus by the team and JB. I know that. You know that. Levi CERTAINLY should know that. If he doesn't, then he's a lot dumber than I thought.

As for Lance getting injured/leaving the race, I wouldn't be surprised if JB pulled the entire team from the race if any of the above occurred.

 

[mambo#5]

As for Lance getting injured/leaving the race, I wouldn't be surprised if JB pulled the entire team from the race if any of the above occurred.

now, you're stretching it. That's like me saying I wouldn't be surprised if el pistolero named his first kid Lance.

 

[Publicus]

now, you're stretching it. That's like me saying I wouldn't be surprised if el pistolero named his first kid Lance.

El Pistolero already has a kid name Lance. :

 

[Dirty South]

El Pistolero already has a kid name Lance. :

I'm sorry, but I must correct you. El pistolero made Lance his beeaahch. I just read that Bruyneel needs to negotiate himself out of his final year (2010) of his Astana contract. After Astana put the kibosh on Contador's departure, wouldn't it be hilarious if JB has to stay at Astana for another year.

Coming out of retirement and racing for free: $0

Placing 3rd in the TDF because you got smacked down by a better champion and possibly screwing up your team for next year because of your arrogance: Priceless!

 

[jpmcmahonjr]

Mambo give it up.....

Lance has been way too successful for the losers of the world. He is the anti-Christ to those jealous souls with nothing to show for or of themselves. Basic truth is those that can't beotch!!!

 

[issoisso]

Noé's going to keep riding. With Flaminia.

 

[hillytn]

I don't disagree with the premise that he knows is Lance's team, but my point merely is that people shouldn't lambast him for saying that he aspires to win the tour even as part of RadioShack. Lance could fall off the bike Horner style, or he could contract H1N1 before it and not be in form. Anything can happen.

first off, I'm always been fan of Levi regardless of the negatives others have thought or posted, so this comes with some level of bias.

gotta agree with Mambo. I'm sure he knows that this team was being built around Lance, but why not aspire? Others have said that he should man-up and try to win the tour. Now that he comes out and says he has the desire to go for it, even with regard to knowing what/who we all assume RS was created for, he still gets a ( - ).

If he doesn't have the legs come race time, then so be it. I respect anyone and everyone's opinion all day long, but let's just see how things shape up at the tour next year before we get all bent out of shape. shoot, they might not even get an invite. =)

 

[mambo#5]

Lance has been way too successful for the losers of the world. He is the anti-Christ to those jealous souls with nothing to show for or of themselves. Basic truth is those that can't beotch!!!

this forum feels like I am at Fenway park and I am wearing an Alex Rodriguez Yankees's jersey. ouch!!

 

[jpmcmahonjr]

Mambo, good comparison.....

It's become the new flavor to hate on Lance. Many can't formulate their own constructive fact based opinions or arguments. So, it's just easier to go with the new majority.

Again, those that can't! Beotch!!!!

 

[Publicus]

first off, I'm always been fan of Levi regardless of the negatives others have thought or posted, so this comes with some level of bias.

gotta agree with Mambo. I'm sure he knows that this team was being built around Lance, but why not aspire? Others have said that he should man-up and try to win the tour. Now that he comes out and says he has the desire to go for it, even with regard to knowing what/who we all assume RS was created for, he still gets a ( - ).

If he doesn't have the legs come race time, then so be it. I respect anyone and everyone's opinion all day long, but let's just see how things shape up at the tour next year before we get all bent out of shape. shoot, they might not even get an invite. =)

Because a Lance-centric team is no place for your personal aspirations. That's not a knock on Lance. That's just reality.

 

[Publicus]

It's become the new flavor to hate on Lance. Many can't formulate their own constructive fact based opinions or arguments. So, it's just easier to go with the new majority.

Again, those that can't! Beotch!!!!

Hate has nothing to do with it.

 

[Murray]

Lance has been way too successful for the losers of the world. He is the anti-Christ to those jealous souls with nothing to show for or of themselves. Basic truth is those that can't beotch!!!

+1 .... so true...

 

[mambo#5]

Because a Lance-centric team is no place for your personal aspirations. That's not a knock on Lance. That's just reality.

neither is an Alberto's centric team or any other team with a star like Andy Schleck. If the leader fails, you gotta have a plan B.

 

[Dirty South]

+1 .... so true...

So, true. And what you're saying is that since Lance was beotching in July about Contador, he couldn't win?

No one is hating on Lance. I'm just pointing out the reality that Lance can't accept the fact that Alberto is better than him and Levi's denial and naivete in thinking that he has a chance of competing for the overall on the same team as Lance. Why should a champ of all 3 grand tours (2 won in the same year) be expected to cowtow to a person who has proven that he can only win the TDF?

For all the hate that has been dished on LeMond for trying to discredit Lance, Lance has embarassed himself and is working on ruining his legacy by foolishly trying to discredit Alberto. At least Lemond had the sense to stay retired while he did it. (And don't get me wrong, I'm glad that Lance is competing; but he is in serious denial believing that something will go a certain way simply because he says so.)

 

[Clemson Cycling]

Because a Lance-centric team is no place for your personal aspirations. That's not a knock on Lance. That's just reality.

This is true of a Cav-centric Columbia and a Schleck-centric Saxo Bank. The best teams are built around their elite. If you want to win at the Tour you better have a great team around you. Just ask Cadel.

By the way Lance-centric teams have won The Vuelta and The Giro with people not named Armstrong.