Giro di California: Whosa gonna winna, eh?!?
by Jimbo... on May 14, 2010 2:45 PM EDT
in News
Email
Print
Bongiorno cycling peoples. So we all know that that other Giro is underway, with all of its glorious tradition, and gorgeous vistas, and that prosecco alla tappa business... mucho respecto... but in my 'hood, there is another race worth following this May, and that race is the 2010 Tour of California.
What, you may ask, does the ToC have that the Giro doesn't, besides fewer stages and less pink crap? Well, for one thing, the ToC has none of that wide open GC battle nonsense. Let's face it, Levi owns this race. The little man's pajamas say "Three Time ToC Winner" on them (I bet) and dude's won those three ToC's with barely a hair out of place. And you can bet your BMB that he aims to win it again.
But, for shits and giggles, lets take a look at who might want to steal Levi's pajamas. What? It could happen...
Team Saxo Bank - The first names that come to mind are half the freaking Saxo Bank team. Names like Fabian, and Andy, and Jens!, all of whom could ruin Levi's coronation if things play out correctly. Admittedly, Spartacus is a bit of a long-shot, but nobody is getting rich betting against that man lately, and Andy has bigger fish to fry in July, methinks, which leaves Jens!. He has the tools (he can climb, he can TT, he likes to attack), he certainly has the will, and he even said that winning the ToC this year was his main ambition for the whole year in his infamous viral internet interview with our own CycleGirl. Beware Levi. Jens! has spoken.
HTC - Only one name on that team looks like a GC maybe, and that man is Mic 'fists-o-fury' Rogers. He knows how to win stage races, and he takes no crap from guys with stupid facial hair. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, biff, sock, pow!
Garmin-Transitions - Sadly, the only possible pajama thief on that team is Dave Z, and that is because he would totally steal someone's pajamas just to be weird. Weirdness aside, DZ could show us the money, but probably not.
Cervélo TestTeam - I guess Deignan could do something, and maybe Haussler could become "Malibu Barbie Barbie", which would be entertaining on lots of levels, mainly around here, but neither are going to win this thing.
The Field - Nope. Nobody coming to mind....hmmm...thinking...thinking... Nope. Nobody.
So, what say you lot? Let Levi win?
76 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Hmmmm
A 33 km TT and a mountaintop finish at Big Bear Lake. Gee , I wonder who we might be underestimating here?
OK, three is enough
I like Levi, but I am ready for someone else to win this race. The guy who could do it, but he won’t because after all they are on the same team, is Chris Horner. If he can put away Valverde, he can put away Leipheimer.
I wouldn’t wish anything bad for the little bald guy, but if he falters for one reason or another…
Cycling will always be a beautiful sport no matter how many people disgrace it.--Christian Vande Velde
I think the organizers are secretly dreaming of that too
As popular as a home-win is, it is starting to become a credibility problem for a race that want’s to be something bigger than a local race.
But the date change impacts that somewhat
As Celerity points out elsewhere, more guys are going to be able to win this from a pure fitness perspective, and more of those guys are targeting the win this time around, so if Levi does win again this time, he will have earned it more so than the past three. I doubt the subtlety in that difference will trump it being forever known as the “Tour of Levifornia’” if he does win, but who knows…
"Do you think we are a bunch a girls?...Go and ride some cobbles and you’ll definately know that we don’t discuss perfume and shaving cream." - Dom
Levi is to TOC as Alberto is to TdF
"My clients dont care shit about romandie or mello johnny" - singhstax
Time for a changing of the Guard...
It won’t become truly international until that happens.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Rogers maybe... he's on form, but he won't necessarily have great support
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I think Levi's reign and the new slot on the calendar
are more motivation for other teams and contenders to dethrown him. I think it’s already an international event, I don’t know if the addition of “truly” changes your definition in some way. I agree with Jens that Levi will be challenged like never before, but he will still come out on top.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
I'm sorry, but
more motivation for other teams and contenders to dethrown him.
That dwarf’s been tossed. Can’t undo it.
I thought dwarf tossing had been banned.
Are you a part of this illegal behavior?
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
First prize in the dwarf toss is Cadillac
Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is this…
"Do you think we are a bunch a girls?...Go and ride some cobbles and you’ll definately know that we don’t discuss perfume and shaving cream." - Dom
Will the change of date have any effect on Levi's chances?
He was always peaking to win this race in Feb, when no one else was. Now I would think a lot more guys will be in good shape, even if this isn’t the major goal of their season.
Good point
The tide has risen, so to speak
"Do you think we are a bunch a girls?...Go and ride some cobbles and you’ll definately know that we don’t discuss perfume and shaving cream." - Dom
Mick Rogers and Jens! both say they want this..
I’d be happy either way.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
For a motivated and healthy TdF contender like Levi?
I think LL will get challenged more than ever before but he is still 2 steps above everyone else in my favorite-rating. Only question-mark to me is if he is gambling on going into the race with less than 100% form so as not to disturb his Tour-prep.
his tour prep as bottle carrier?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Yeah,
RS’ best rider is going to relegated to water duty.
I don’t think Levi will pull a Contador and attack on his own. But he’s not going to be forced to stay with Lance if the race moves on. RS has plenty of strong domestiques to look after Lance (I’d call most of them super-domestiques really)
Moi Aussi...
…never understimate the gravitational force of HWMNBN’s ego.
I'm hoping so...
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
A motivated and healthy Mick Rogers
will be allowed to carry water bottles and lead out a sprint train for Cavendish.
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
I'd rather see him race but Cavendish is a Hoover.
He sucks up all the attention and talent.
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
You heard it here first
Stef Clement is going to take this by surprise!
What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how well we rise after we fall.
Here's half an hour of Saxo at a Press Conference at Specialised yesterday...
>http://iamspecialized.com/road/news-article/live-q-a-with-team-saxo-bank And we think Spanish hats are cheesy? Hats and fake moustaches (!) aside, this was fun.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Thanks Ted!
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Andy and Matti actually look pretty good
And cheesy hats? Those hats are awesome.
"Do you think we are a bunch a girls?...Go and ride some cobbles and you’ll definately know that we don’t discuss perfume and shaving cream." - Dom
Great hats.
These are cheesy (Gouda) cowboy hats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h—n62JSQPQ&feature=related
"Mollema not flying, +12 at interm." Bruce. "I hope he doesn't slip in Frinking's tears.." Seahorse.
Go, DZ!
I remember reading somewhere that he thinks this year’s time trial is better for him than Solvang was, so he should have a better shot.
Das ist hier nicht Tralala--Rolf Aldag, expressing disappointment that Andre Greipel didn't try harder in Eschborn-Frankfurt
what a gyp. did you know that the european channels are scheduled to show almost twice as much of the atoc than versus?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Yeah, I'm sure we will miss out on the many and very interesting interviews
With the locals.
"i just see giro and get all spazzy" - Gavia
by TheFigurehead on May 14, 2010 8:03 AM EDT up reply actions
please check the cheesery up thread on saxo.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
And then Neil deGrasse Tyson
would have to come on and explain that sorry, the Nugget is not big enough to be a planet, and would he please go stand over there with Pluto.
of course, the race isn't scheduled to finish until 01.15 the following day
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Jens! will crush the wee little man. :D
by gregm on May 14, 2010 8:52 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
that would be awesome
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
He's got the support, certainly.
Saxo has a strong line-up. It would be fun to seem them challenge Levi and the Shack. I know it’s Tour training, but an overall and some stage wins wouldn’t hurt the sponsor hunt.
Saxo
don’t mess around. This should be interesting. Though having Nibali there would have been cool too.
by Chris Fontecchio on May 14, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
If only Nibali was having success in Italy
Giro...Giro.....Giro!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Oh man the Versus coverage already scares me to think about
now that there is a comparison one can make between TV cycling coverage in the US, I feel like I’ll enjoy my Gogo knowledgeable analysis in the morning and then be dumbed up by Ligget in the afternoon. Go Jens!
Giro...Giro.....Giro!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
my little observation
Levi is a very boring cyclist and very predictable too. my bet the entire field will beat him in a flying 200m.
If I wanted to get shit small wins, I'd race shit small races (Cavendish on Greipel)
Today's Press Conference...
…is locked down tighter than Fort Knox. Special wristbands are the key to getting in.
by Chief Commissaire on May 14, 2010 3:46 PM EDT reply actions
Just because he is on my VDS.... It looks like Peter Sagan will be a lock for this race.
He could push Cav into the ocean and sprint so far ahead to gain a minute before the TT, then blitz the TT and then storm to the top of the not so mountain top finish at Big Bear… Seems like cake for him.
Tommeke!, Tommeke!, Tommeke!, Tommeke!
My ears are longer
but besides that, no
"Do you think we are a bunch a girls?...Go and ride some cobbles and you’ll definately know that we don’t discuss perfume and shaving cream." - Dom
Armstrong said race will be won in the TT and....
…listed Levi, Mick Rogers and Dave Zabriskie as the favs.
Cancellara sported a full on NHL playoff beard and looked very rested….no training the past two weeks he said.
I hope
Rory is up there. Would be nice to see some of our domestic guys do well. He can TT good and climbs damn good for a big guy. But, DZ is who I’m rooting for…just wonder if his team is strong enough. Still curious as to why D. Pate is off the roster?
by cyclingdiva on May 15, 2010 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
startlist
http://s288581967.onlinehome.fr/LIVE/resultat/resultat.php5?code_course=TDC&menu=4
but it is JJ not Lucas for Saxo
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Podium Cafe
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Celebrate the Giro d'Italia at Podium Cafe!
Check our Giro Section for race updates, on-the-scene reports, and other hijinx.
Featured Stories
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
