The 2009 cycling season has seen Levi Leipheimer go from unsure "gregario" to confident team leader behind excellent stage race performances across the world. From his dominating third victory in a row at the Tour of California to his surprise overall win at the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, Leipheimer has exhibited an inner confidence not seen in previous seasons. And just today Velonews has an article with quotes from Levi promising that he will attack in hopes of taking the overall title when the time is right in this year's Giro.
Levi Leipheimer has slowly and steadily gotten himself to the place he is now with hard work, patience, and an unending desire to improve year over year. Now settled in at Astana and under the watchful eye of Johan Bruyneel, Leipheimer has continued to improve, and 2009 has seen him transition from a grand tour outlier to a bonifide favorite in 2009. He currently sits in third place overall in this year's Giro, and obviously has good form and a calm mind heading into the final weeks of the Giro.
Whether Leipheimer will actually be able to attack is still to be determined, but his quotes in the Velonews article show just how far he has come as a stage race team leader. Back in 2005, riding as the stage race leader of the now defunct Gerolsteiner team, Leipheimer spoke of wanting to win a stage or two in a few races, or go for a top ten in the grand tours. Today, that talk has been replaced by a quiet confidence, and true belief that he can win a grand tour, not just a stage.
Whether Leipheimer will end up winning this year's Giro is still uncertain. Rabobank's Denis Menchov is riding very strong, as are several Italians. But Leipheimer has one thing that none of the other GC hopes do: a superior team. The Astana squad is a true stage racing juggernaut, and they are more than capable of blowing a race apart on behalf of their team leader. Expect the Leipheimer will be given every opportunity to seize victory for himself in the Giro, as his teammates will surely tear themselves apart to place in the best possible position to win. And if the recent past is any indicator, the Santa Rosa resident will come correct when the chips are down.
Friday, May 22, 2009
The New Levi Leipheimer: Astana Leader Gaining Confidence, Instilling Fear In 2009 Giro d'Italia Peloton
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2 comments:
Astana is a great team. But when it came to a strong mountain attack DiLuca and Menchov (even Pelizzoti) demolished Levi. Levi was my pre-race fav but now I cheer for Menchov. Hope the russian doesn't do his trademark fan dissapointment routine :D
LIPHIEMER IS NOT GOING TO WIN THIS GIRO OR ANY GIRO . HE WILL WIN THE LIFETIME AWARD FOR THE WHEEL SUCKING MAGNET MOST BORING RIDER THAT NEVER ATTACKS GOLD MEDAL. HIM AND CADEL EVANS MAKE THE PERFECT COUPLE. THEY SHOULD HOOK UP THEIR WHEELS AND GO ON THEIR OWN HONEYMOON TO THE GREEN ACRES FARM. YOU KNOW THAT HORNER IS STILL SMILING TOO THATS BECAUSE HES GLAD HE DOESN'T HAVE TO FINISH THE GIRO BECAUSE HES FRESH OUT OF LUCK AND SMILING POWER ,.WHAT A CLOWN. HE ACTUALLY THINKS HE CAN COMPETE AGAINST THESE ITALIANS AND EURO PROS. HE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE GILA AND STAY THERE .THATS WHERE HES A HERO .THATS MORE HIS STYLE. THIS GUY IS SUCH A NON PRO. THIS RACE IS ALL ABOUT DI'LUCA AND MENCHOV. THESE GUYS KNOW HOW TO RACE, THEY ATTACK AND PUT ON A SHOW THAT WILL STAY IN YOUR MEMORY FOR THE REST OF YOUR MEASLEY LIVES. AND ARMSTRONG IS A BIG WEASLE FOR STOPPING THE ENTIRE PELOTON TO TELL THE TIFOSI "THIS BIKE RACE IS TO HARD FOR ME" THATS WHY HE NEVER RACED IT BEFORE AND HES NOT GOING TO EVER DO IT AGAIN . WHAT A CRY BABY AND NOW HES ALL EMBARRASSED ABOUT IT. I'M SORRY FOLKS BUT NO AMERICAN IS GOING TO WIN THE GIRO NOT THIS ONE ANYWAY AND NOT FOR ANOTHER 8 YEARS AT LEAST.AND WHY DOES EVERYBODY THINK THE TOUR OF CALIFORNINA IS SO GREAT/
THERE IS NO COMPARISON TO THE GIRO . THE GIRO IS THE CHAMPAGNE OF CYCLING AND THE T.O.C IS STALE WARM BEER. TO BAD FOR T.O.C. WHAT A JOKE ! AND A DISGRACE.FOGETABOUT IT!! HAVE SOME PINK CHAMPAGNE AND ENJOY REAL CYCLING!!
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