Ivan Basso interview

[Bluetree]

If that's the case, it's probably because Levi was "promised" the leader's role, at least that's the impression the press gave. I mean, DC made a huge deal about it, promising news of a "major blockbuster signing" before it was announced. Leipheimer... blockbuster? ho hum.

But that was before Basso was dropped by CSC and had his case shelved in OP. DC had been going after Basso for so long.. and frankly, there is no comparing Leipheimer to Basso. He had a few good showings, and won the Dauphine once, but he's no Basso.

Plus, Basso is 29 and has a 3-year deal. Levi is what... 32 or 33? This may have been his last chance as a Tour threat. If I were him, I'd be a bit disappointed too.

[VeloChick]

Plus, Basso is 29 and has a 3-year deal. Levi is what... 32 or 33? This may have been his last chance as a Tour threat. If I were him, I'd be a bit disappointed too.

Levi will most likely have his chance @ the Vuelta this year. There is no question that if Ivan races (given last year's twist, and the ongoing Operation Puerto, it certainly isn't a given) this year, he will be the team leader in both the Giro, and le Tour. In terms of George, even sans Basso and Levi, Big George showed that while he can win a stage or two, he's no GC contender in the big French race.

FYI, I've seen Levi interviewed a few times, and he really seems like a genuinely nice guy. Who really knows though?

[Bluetree]

Cool, another pro cycling fan. Welcome.

VeloChick, please post in the Getting to Know You thread
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...=2001&page=111
so you can tell us all a bit about yourself and your bike(s)!

[VeloChick]

Cool, another pro cycling fan. Welcome.

VeloChick, please post in the Getting to Know You thread
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...=2001&page=111
so you can tell us all a bit about yourself and your bike(s)!

Done!

My boyfriend got me into watching pro cycling. Once I saw those hot Italian racers, I never looked back.

[equus123]

haha, they ARE very pretty to look at, aren't they

[Eden]

Levi will most likely have his chance @ the Vuelta this year. There is no question that if Ivan races (given last year's twist, and the ongoing Operation Puerto, it certainly isn't a given) this year, he will be the team leader in both the Giro, and le Tour. In terms of George, even sans Basso and Levi, Big George showed that while he can win a stage or two, he's no GC contender in the big French race.

FYI, I've seen Levi interviewed a few times, and he really seems like a genuinely nice guy. Who really knows though?

Levi may be fighting out the leadership role at the Velta with Tommy D.....

I really hope that Discovery hasn't made the mistake this year of having too many chiefs and not enough indians.(which I think has been a big detriment to T-Mobile in the past - the whole Jan-Vino-Kloden triangle - sheesh its ablsolutely amaturish to attack your own teammate in a Grand Tour!!!) I can totally understand why they jumped at the chance of getting Basso on the team. He's a real contender for the grand tours and to tell the truth I'm not sure that there was anyone on Disco with the experience or the talent to take The Tour. Levi certainly is talented, but I certainly never saw anything from him that made me think he could win the big one. There are other guys on Discovery that are really talented (Danielson - Popovich), but they are young and relatively inexperienced. It should be a rather exciting season to watch. It will be interesting to see the Giro/Tour team rosters. We'll see if Basso has the personality to inspire the others to work and give everything all for him.

[Bluetree]

I'm not sure that there was anyone on Disco with the experience or the talent to take The Tour.

You said it right there, Eden! I like Popovich and Danielson, too, and the young kid who got hot at the end of last season... Brakovich-something... the name escapes me at the moment. But I don't see a power struggle here.

Jan, Kloden and Vino all had potential as Grand Tour winners, although I always thought of Kloden as the backup guy. Vino was just a hand grenade waiting to go off. On Discovery, no one can touch Basso in the mountains and everyone knows it... and he does have the Lance Seal of Approval.

Lance wanted the guy, went after him for years, pretty much called him the heir apparent. Anyone who decides not to work for Basso has to to deal with the Lance Armstrong Staredown. And I don't think anyone on that team has the cahones to do that!

As for the Vuelta and some of the smaller tours, my gut instinct is that they will give the leadership to Levi, and groom Danielson as his main leuitenant. But what do I know?

[Eden]

Yeah - Lance is still involved in the team and I think you said it exactly right that another rider would have to have quite the cahones to go against what Lance wants - which I'm sure is Basso 100% for the Tour.

I suspect that Levi will probably go to another team next year where he will be leader and I would completely understand it. He was leader before and that must be hard to give up.

I'm really looking forward to this year - we should finally see the match up that was missing last year Vino, Basso, maybe... Jan (if he can find a team..)