[OGRipper]

Starts tomorrow and there is not much action here. Who is going to take the win? Not exactly going out on a limb but I'm guessing Astana will work for Levi on this one and that he'll get the title again. He's been working towards it more than others and he'll be called on to play a subordinate role in a lot of other big races this year, so I figure they'll throw him a bone on this one.

It's a pretty impressive field for sure. Looking forward to some quality spectating on Sunday, seeing the group ride over the Golden Gate Bridge and then down Route 1 to Santa Cruz.

 

[maddog17]

we want pics dammit!!!

 

[loco-gringo]

I thought that about Levi. I'll be watching every chance I get.

 

[blue]

Watched almost the end of stage 2 today, took a few crappy pics. Was pretty good times, especially seeing so many people braving the sh!tty weather to watch a bike race.

 

[Westy]

Levi actually attacked. I'm afraid the world might be coming to an end.

 

[Heidi]

Great racing yesterday. I can't believe nobody could do anything when Levi attacked. Looked like a pretty crappy day to race bikes.

 

[OGRipper]

Levi actually attacked. I'm afraid the world might be coming to an end.

Bwahahahaha!! No kidding. Great to see some actual racing out there.

How about Mancebo's win?! So awesome to see him get it after being out there alone for so long. Truly an epic ride. Those two guys that bridged up must have been so pissed when he jumped early and they couldn't catch him.

Super cool to see what happened yesterday. It seems that Levi is hungry and recognizes the need to be more aggressive. I still think he's going to be playing the support role for the rest of the year no matter what he does, but in addition to wanting the win he is probably motivated to show strong team leadership to keep himself up there as a go-to guy if something happens to the other big guns.

 

[maddog17]

so far the race isn't too bad. nice to see they finally have a nice day to race, a little better than yesterday. the coverage isn't too bad but i do have a couple of complaints. the guy doing most of the talking with Phil and Paul really needs to go. you don't allow a dolt like him to do most of the talking when you have 2 of the best in the business standing there. he seems a bit lost and he's no way near as smooth as Phil. the other thing VS needs to get rid of is that F***ING annoying chick who thinks she's a comedien. HOLY S**T!! please.. if there are any RM'ers there watching in person and you see that chick, please do us all a favor and beat her to death with her microphone!!! after watching her try to interview (???) the guy from Bissel while he was on the trainer, i have to turn the mute on her. i don't understand why they need a person doing that bit.

i feel better now.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

Agreed on all counts.

 

[Silver]

Levi actually attacked. I'm afraid the world might be coming to an end.

I have a feeling that's why Lance stayed close on GC...in case Levi pulls his patented, "Nah, I'll let those guys go on the climb..." tomorrow.

And low and behold, Levi didn't. Good stuff!

 

[James]

I have a feeling that's why Lance stayed close on GC...in case Levi pulls his patented, "Nah, I'll let those guys go on the climb..." tomorrow.

And low and behold, Levi didn't. Good stuff!

Just wait until a race that matters.

 

[Silver]

Just wait until a race that matters.

Levi will be a domestique again in those races...

 

[James]

Levi will be a domestique again in those races...

He's not the kind of rider "who attacks," to quote him at the TdF a few years back. That's why he's a domestique at the big races.

He kind of annoys me for some reason, I know I should be stoked with an American racer of his stature, but still...

 

[maddog17]

i agree with you too James. there's something about him... he could be more if he put his mind to it. i guess if that's what he wants then fine, but i think he could have podiumed at the TdF.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

I liked Levi's 3 fingers he threw up at the end off the TT...

 

[James]

i agree with you too James. there's something about him... he could be more if he put his mind to it. i guess if that's what he wants then fine, but i think he could have podiumed at the TdF.

The mindset has a lot to do with it at that level. Look at Ulrich, even Lance said that Der Kaiser was the superior athlete, he just couldn't focus like Lance could, and that made all the difference.
I was re-watching Lance's last TdF on DVD the other day, and Lance passes him in the freaking PROLOG, with a 60 second headstart.
Game over, first day, no way, you're done.

Sorry, off topic there...

Just reading/seeing interviews with him, he just doesn't seem like the super-agressive rider that you need to be to win/podium at a major tour. Remember the duels that Contador and Rasmussen got into at the TdF? Epic, just two incredible climbers (one with nitrous though it seems) testing each other. And there's Levi, just climbing away...

 

[OGRipper]

Just reading/seeing interviews with him, he just doesn't seem like the super-agressive rider that you need to be to win/podium at a major tour. Remember the duels that Contador and Rasmussen got into at the TdF? Epic, just two incredible climbers (one with nitrous though it seems) testing each other. And there's Levi, just climbing away...

Very true. Can't deny that he's a strong rider with a pretty complete game, but he lacks the aggressive style that makes for exciting racing. Just look at his "attack" on Bonny Doon (Stage 2 I think?): He didn't explode off the front, he just sort of gradually rode away from everyone.

And he has been on the Vuelta podium. Twice, I'm pretty sure. Not bad for a guy lacking the killer instinct.

 

[loco-gringo]

This is the first time I found myself interested in him really.

 

[James]

Very true. Can't deny that he's a strong rider with a pretty complete game, but he lacks the aggressive style that makes for exciting racing. Just look at his "attack" on Bonny Doon (Stage 2 I think?): He didn't explode off the front, he just sort of gradually rode away from everyone.

And he has been on the Vuelta podium. Twice, I'm pretty sure. Not bad for a guy lacking the killer instinct.

He's a strong rider, just not the attacking style, and that's probably because he can't. Look at a rider like Menchov, he can grind away, but can't launch those aggressive attacks like the pure climbers might be able to. Lance could. I was re-watching some of the '05 TdF, and it was pretty crazy to see what he could do on a climb. I really, really want to be able to see him pull that off this year.

Honestly though, I think the Giro is shaping up to be the ultimate race this year. It's their centenary edition if I'm not mistaken?
Lance, Basso (with something to prove), Cunego, Sastre, Cancellara, Levi (probably), Menchov (I'm pretty sure), no Cadel though, probably scared away. I just wish Gilberto Simoni's team would get an invite, it's not a Giro without him...

 

[JRogers]

He's a strong rider, just not the attacking style, and that's probably because he can't. Look at a rider like Menchov, he can grind away, but can't launch those aggressive attacks like the pure climbers might be able to. Lance could. I was re-watching some of the '05 TdF, and it was pretty crazy to see what he could do on a climb. I really, really want to be able to see him pull that off this year.

Honestly though, I think the Giro is shaping up to be the ultimate race this year. It's their centenary edition if I'm not mistaken?
Lance, Basso (with something to prove), Cunego, Sastre, Cancellara, Levi (probably), Menchov (I'm pretty sure), no Cadel though, probably scared away. I just wish Gilberto Simoni's team would get an invite, it's not a Giro without him...

Agreed on all points. For how good Armstrong is in TTs he sure can accelerate in the mountains too. Evans is kind of like Menchov as well; he even looks like he's grinding when he climbs too (head low, slower cadence). The Giro this year is going to be the real show, I think. There's more drama there than in the Tour (which I'm guessing is going to turn into the Contador Show).


On a side Tour of Cali note, did anyone see the report that basically some dudes basically cleaned out Zabriskie's house while he was racing? Major items listed from cyclingnews.com?:

Black 2008 Subaru Outback, Utah plate A189NC
Black 2006 Toyota Scion, Utah plate 094VWM
Giro D Italia Race Medal (approx. 6" circumference)
Olympic Seiko watch
Beijing Olympic ring (silver) with initials "DZ" engraved ($4,000)
Olympic Time Trial Bike, plus 12 other bikes (combined value of $100,000)
Cervelo (black/red) bike frame - team issued ($5000)
Tag Heuer watch ($6,000)
Bose Speaker/Receiver System ($15,000)
Sony 52" flat screen TV ($4,000)
Two Mac Books and one Mac desktop, plus hard drive ($8,000)
A pair of Space legs, a recovery compression system for legs ($5,000)
7 Marvel sideshow statues ($11,000)


They even took the man's clothes.

 

[golgiaparatus]

Agreed on all points. For how good Armstrong is in TTs he sure can accelerate in the mountains too. Evans is kind of like Menchov as well; he even looks like he's grinding when he climbs too (head low, slower cadence). The Giro this year is going to be the real show, I think. There's more drama there than in the Tour (which I'm guessing is going to turn into the Contador Show).


On a side Tour of Cali note, did anyone see the report that basically some dudes basically cleaned out Zabriskie's house while he was racing? Major items listed from cyclingnews.com?:

Black 2008 Subaru Outback, Utah plate A189NC
Black 2006 Toyota Scion, Utah plate 094VWM
Giro D Italia Race Medal (approx. 6" circumference)
Olympic Seiko watch
Beijing Olympic ring (silver) with initials "DZ" engraved ($4,000)
Olympic Time Trial Bike, plus 12 other bikes (combined value of $100,000)
Cervelo (black/red) bike frame - team issued ($5000)
Tag Heuer watch ($6,000)
Bose Speaker/Receiver System ($15,000)
Sony 52" flat screen TV ($4,000)
Two Mac Books and one Mac desktop, plus hard drive ($8,000)
A pair of Space legs, a recovery compression system for legs ($5,000)
7 Marvel sideshow statues ($11,000)


They even took the man's clothes.

Heard about that on Velo:
What kind of low life POS thief steals an Olympic medal after making a haul like that? 2 cars, multiple ultra high end bikes, sound systems, computers, TVs etc etc... an to think the pricks actually though, "this guy has an olympic medal? Oh yeah, we need that too". I am amazed some people,that's low, even for thieves.

Hopefully some of that stuff will find it's way back to him. Obviously the CPU's, entertainment stuff, and probably the cars will be long gone. But some of that stuff will be hard to hock... He's got several bikes that likely have his name on them, and an olympic bike that I'm sure is one of a kind. Hopefully they will try to hock the medal as well "as is" and it will find its way back to DZ.

No mention of any stolen DZ Nuts MainTAINTenence products.

 

[James]

Heard about that on Velo:
What kind of low life POS thief steals an Olympic medal after making a haul like that? 2 cars, multiple ultra high end bikes, sound systems, computers, TVs etc etc... an to think the pricks actually though, "this guy has an olympic medal? Oh yeah, we need that too". I am amazed some people,that's low, even for thieves.

Hopefully some of that stuff will find it's way back to him. Obviously the CPU's, entertainment stuff, and probably the cars will be long gone. But some of that stuff will be hard to hock... He's got several bikes that likely have his name on them, and an olympic bike that I'm sure is one of a kind. Hopefully they will try to hock the medal as well "as is" and it will find its way back to DZ.

No mention of any stolen DZ Nuts MainTAINTenence products.

Hey, Cash4Gold can melt that sh!t down and send you straight cash baby!

 

[golgiaparatus]

Hey, Cash4Gold can melt that sh!t down and send you straight cash baby!

Mexican gangster walks into Cash for gold: "Hola b!tch, can you melt down this Olympic medal for me?"

I wonder if they'd do it.

 

[maddog17]

says a lot for DZ's neighbors!! if they didn't steal everything in one shot, which they probably needed a small box truck to haul away all the bikes, then they did it over a period of a couple of days. i'd be a bit curious as to why some stranger is at my neighbors house clearing out all his stuff.

 

[James]

says a lot for DZ's neighbors!! if they didn't steal everything in one shot, which they probably needed a small box truck to haul away all the bikes, then they did it over a period of a couple of days. i'd be a bit curious as to why some stranger is at my neighbors house clearing out all his stuff.

Isn't he in Utah or something? He might not have close neighbors, or have a secluded house or something, that would figure...

Still, totally LAME! I can't imagine what I'd do if my bikes were stolen, thank god for insurance, but it would still hurt. And I don't have anything I did anything special on, like he did.
Terrible, terrible.

Hey, maybe it was the Trek marketing department, like everyone is saying "stole" Lance's bike for the attention?

 

[OGRipper]

It's like they were a bunch of cycling fans or something. At the very least it's pretty clear that the thieves knew he'd be out of town.

 

[maddog17]

i think he lives in a pretty normal looking neighborhood. i remember reading an article on him online and they showed his house and how his garage was just stocked with bike stuff. sucks either way.

 

[Wumpus]

On a side Tour of Cali note, did anyone see the report that basically some dudes basically cleaned out Zabriskie's house while he was racing? Major items listed from cyclingnews.com?:

Black 2008 Subaru Outback, Utah plate A189NC
Black 2006 Toyota Scion, Utah plate 094VWM
Giro D Italia Race Medal (approx. 6" circumference)
Olympic Seiko watch
Beijing Olympic ring (silver) with initials "DZ" engraved ($4,000)
Olympic Time Trial Bike, plus 12 other bikes (combined value of $100,000)
Cervelo (black/red) bike frame - team issued ($5000)
Tag Heuer watch ($6,000)
Bose Speaker/Receiver System ($15,000)
Sony 52" flat screen TV ($4,000)
Two Mac Books and one Mac desktop, plus hard drive ($8,000)
A pair of Space legs, a recovery compression system for legs ($5,000)
7 Marvel sideshow statues ($11,000)


They even took the man's clothes.

They found one of his cars: http://www.velonews.com/article/88644/police-report-break-in-zabriskie-burglary