". . .I have balls. I just went for it and when I saw I had a gap I just drove it." - Tejay Van...

". . .I have balls. I just went for it and when I saw I had a gap I just drove it."

- Tejay Van Garderen on his recount of Stage 2, and why he descends faster then Leipheimer.

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9 months ago Ryan_Liles 27 comments 0 recs |

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Velonews picked it up also.

What would Deming do? (+8:00 GMT)

by Ryan_Liles on Aug 25, 2011 9:11 AM EDT reply actions

Video link of the quote.

Youtube

Ya’, he is way more humble in the video then how it was written.

More like – Because Levi is a stronger rider, Tejay had to tactically take a higher risk on the decent to make up for it.

What would Deming do? (+8:00 GMT)

by Ryan_Liles on Aug 28, 2011 4:44 AM EDT up reply actions

i'm liking Tejay more and more everytime i see him race

and these comments only add to it.

"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."

by ant1 on Aug 25, 2011 9:56 AM EDT reply actions

+1

He doesn’t seem like the next Lance at all too (a big plus for me). He seems to be his own style of racer and taking the risks he did yesterday shows that he really wanted the win/jersey. Easy to like his smile and style…

by JustJoshinYa on Aug 25, 2011 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

It's sad (for my VDS team) because it's true

Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...

by TheFigurehead on Aug 25, 2011 10:11 AM EDT reply actions

Inetersting that

Danielson has had well documented trouble in the pack in years past, but was doing a lot of the work on the final descent. He’s having himself a nice year.

"Everybody relax, I'm here."

by Drew Davis on Aug 25, 2011 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

I wonder if this tweet is related

I need to make a rule that I pause for 3 seconds before I give an answer to an interview question.

http://twitter.com/tvangarderen88/status/106748433674678273

Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...

by TheFigurehead on Aug 25, 2011 11:34 AM EDT reply actions

I think so

I like how he said he wasn’t disrespecting Levi, yet his answer could easily be interpreted as disrespect. I read it basically as… Levi is timid and has no balls.

"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton

by sminer on Aug 25, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope he never enforces that rule.

What would Deming do? (+8:00 GMT)

by Ryan_Liles on Aug 25, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought so too.

With all due respect to Tejay, it makes him sound like a jerk.

Start fast, finish fast, and hope you're fast enough-- Cadel Evans

by tgartner on Aug 25, 2011 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

Did you watch the interview? He clearly didn't mean Levi didn't have balls.

by ZoeRochelle on Aug 25, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

To add:

it was more like, “I’m young and more careless than Levi who has a wife and a bit more life under his belt.”

And I knew when I saw the interview that it would be misconstrued.

by ZoeRochelle on Aug 25, 2011 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree, it was clear in the interview there was no disrespect intended.

But written down you can see it didn’t come out right.

"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton

by sminer on Aug 25, 2011 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I did wonder about that ellipsis in the quote.

Start fast, finish fast, and hope you're fast enough-- Cadel Evans

by tgartner on Aug 25, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Why?
Because he is young and said something with a little sauce added in?

That was the best interview all year.

What would Deming do? (+8:00 GMT)

by Ryan_Liles on Aug 25, 2011 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Because of the (apparently unintended) implication that Levi has no balls.

Note that I didn’t say he IS a jerk, just that the quote (as printed) made him sound like one. A little sauce is fine, he did a great ride and he’s got a right to brag about it. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to put something like that.

Start fast, finish fast, and hope you're fast enough-- Cadel Evans

by tgartner on Aug 25, 2011 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it’s great to see a little of this in the Peloton by some young guy.
It was also great to see what Levi did today, as well as his more ‘statesman’ comments about yesterdays stage.

What would Deming do? (+8:00 GMT)

by Ryan_Liles on Aug 25, 2011 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

For frick's sake, it's not a problem for riders to have different riding styles.

On a scale from Moncoutie to, well, probably some guy who crashed as a junior and we never heard about, because he was “all balls,” there are good riders who take different levels of risk. That’s hardly a state secret. Levi rides with amazing finesse and total control. No reason he should all “balls out” to that, it would only screw with the system.

"BECAUSE THERE’S NO F*CKING SPRINTS." -Cavendish (asterisk added)

by JFS_PGH on Aug 27, 2011 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions