Ivan Basso interview

[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..)