Levi should have won TdF?

All,

Something I have not seen discussed: Should this have been Levi's year
to win the Tour de France?

In stages that I watched, he appeared to be significantly stronger
than Contador. In several, he was relentlessly attaching Rasmussen,
trying to crack him, while Contador just followed. Yet Levi was never
left behind at the finish by Rasmussen and Contador.

It seems to me that the Discovery Channel strategy was to preserve
Contador's white jersey for sure, and that by having Levi work for
Contador they could make a reasonable try at the yellow without
risking the white jersey.

Given that Levi Leipheimer was the nominal leader of the team, it
seemed to me that in the absence of Rasmussen, or if Contador had
worked with Levi anything like 50/50, or even if Rasmussen had been
withdrawn early enough for Levi and Contador to race head-to-head in
mountain stages, then Levi would have won the Tour de France.

I didn't see every stage in detail, I admit. Perhaps I missed seeing
something?

Thoughts?

Eric

Discovery's goal was to win the tour, not to have Levi win, nor to have Contador win. Coming out of Alpes, Contador had a better GC position, which he solidified with the W on stage 14. Still, despite convention, Discovery allowed Leipheimer to work for himself, as he dropped Contador toward the finish and took what could have been valuable bonus seconds on stage 15. If there was any criticism, it was that Contador was getting a lack of support, not Leipheimer. Leipheimer was clearly the back-up option.

Cycling's a team sport, something which is easy to forget. It's not "may the best man win". Discovery showed they were the best team. Leipheimer benefitted from that strength, just as Contador did. Leipheimer would not have been better off, for example, on Gerolsteiner.

wrote:
All,

Something I have not seen discussed: Should this have been Levi's year
to win the Tour de France?

In stages that I watched, he appeared to be significantly stronger
than Contador. In several, he was relentlessly attaching Rasmussen,
trying to crack him, while Contador just followed. Yet Levi was never
left behind at the finish by Rasmussen and Contador.

It seems to me that the Discovery Channel strategy was to preserve
Contador's white jersey for sure, and that by having Levi work for
Contador they could make a reasonable try at the yellow without
risking the white jersey.

Given that Levi Leipheimer was the nominal leader of the team, it
seemed to me that in the absence of Rasmussen, or if Contador had
worked with Levi anything like 50/50, or even if Rasmussen had been
withdrawn early enough for Levi and Contador to race head-to-head in
mountain stages, then Levi would have won the Tour de France.

I didn't see every stage in detail, I admit. Perhaps I missed seeing
something?

Thoughts?

Eric

On Aug 6, 12:10 pm, wrote:
All,

Something I have not seen discussed: Should this have been Levi's year
to win the Tour de France?

In stages that I watched, he appeared to be significantly stronger
than Contador. In several, he was relentlessly attaching Rasmussen,
trying to crack him, while Contador just followed. Yet Levi was never
left behind at the finish by Rasmussen and Contador.

It seems to me that the Discovery Channel strategy was to preserve
Contador's white jersey for sure, and that by having Levi work for
Contador they could make a reasonable try at the yellow without
risking the white jersey.

Given that Levi Leipheimer was the nominal leader of the team, it
seemed to me that in the absence of Rasmussen, or if Contador had
worked with Levi anything like 50/50, or even if Rasmussen had been
withdrawn early enough for Levi and Contador to race head-to-head in
mountain stages, then Levi would have won the Tour de France.

I didn't see every stage in detail, I admit. Perhaps I missed seeing
something?

Thoughts?

Eric

You must have only watched the last climbing stage and the final TT,
as those were the only days Levi showed any real strength at all. As
for attacking Rasmussen, I almost spit my coffee out when I read
that. Levi himself admits he can't attack and from my recollection he
didn't attack once until after Rasmussen was sent home from the tour.

On Aug 6, 8:10 pm, wrote:

I didn't see every stage in detail, I admit. Perhaps I missed seeing
something?

Thoughts?

My thoughts a not only didn't you see every stage in detail, you
didn't see any stage in detail.

wrote in message
ups.com...
On Aug 6, 8:10 pm, wrote:

I didn't see every stage in detail, I admit. Perhaps I missed seeing
something?

Thoughts?

My thoughts a not only didn't you see every stage in detail, you
didn't see any stage in detail.

I agree completely.

On the other hand - if Levi had had more support and if he had been stronger
starting in the second week instead of the third, he had a very good chance
of beating Rassmussen hands down.

And if pigs had wings maybe they could fly.

On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:10:22 -0000, wrote:

Should this have been Levi's year
to win the Tour de France?

No.

Next question.

I didn't see every stage in detail, I
admit. Perhaps I missed seeing
something?

Perhaps.
--
JT
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On Aug 6, 7:00 pm, John Forrest Tomlinson
wrote:
On Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:10:22 -0000, wrote:
Should this have been Levi's year
to win the Tour de France?

No.

Next question.

I didn't see every stage in detail, I
admit. Perhaps I missed seeing
something?

Perhaps.
--
JT
****************************
Remove "remove" to reply
Visithttp://www.jt10000.com
****************************

You missed the detail in the stages.

wrote:
All,

In stages that I watched, he appeared to be significantly stronger
than Contador. In several, he was relentlessly attaching Rasmussen,
trying to crack him, while Contador just followed. Yet Levi was never
left behind at the finish by Rasmussen and Contador.

Err, you're confusing Contador and Liepheimer. Contador was the one
attacking Rasmussen while Levi just followed. The right rider won.

monsler wrote:
In stages that I watched, he appeared to be significantly stronger
than Contador. In several, he was relentlessly attaching Rasmussen,
trying to crack him, while Contador just followed. Yet Levi was never
left behind at the finish by Rasmussen and Contador.

I didn't see every stage in detail, I admit. Perhaps I missed seeing
something?

Thoughts?

I think your satellite dish must be very valuable. It seems to be able to
pick up transmissions from alternate universes, like something out of the
twilight zone.

On Aug 6, 1:44 pm, Dan Connelly
wrote:
Discovery's goal was to win the tour, not to have Levi win, nor to have Contador win. Coming out of Alpes, Contador had a better GC position, which he solidified with the W on stage 14. Still, despite convention, Discovery allowed Leipheimer to work for himself, as he dropped Contador toward the finish and took what could have been valuable bonus seconds on stage 15.

According to Contador, he was calling for Leipheimer to wait for him,
but apparently the message didn't get through.

Andy Coggan