When Oude Granny broke the news (at least to me; I must be stuck in '03) that Levi Leipheimer was (re)joining the Discovery Channel team, the first question that came to mind was:HOW OLD IS THIS GUY?
Well, here are the numbers:
Born: 10/24/1973
Height: 5 foot 7 inches / 171cm
Birthplace: Butte, Montana
Weight: 140 pounds / 63kg
Resides: Santa Rosa, California/Gerona, Spain
Given that Floyd Landis will be the compelling story in cycling in 2007, not to mention the fact that Tyler Hamilton plans a comeback and the future of both Jan Ullrich (who says HE'S talking to Discovery ... uh huh) and Ivan Basso has to be in some doubt, Levi Leipheimer riding for Disovery just doesn't do it for me. At least not today.
Heck, Our Boy Lance seems like yesterday's news these days given the nature of the Landis story.
U.S. Postal/Discovery may have seemed like the center of the cycling universe before this season, but given Discovery's sorry performance in the Tour (even though George Hincapie did wear the yellow jersey for a day on a time bonus and Yaroslav Popovych won a stage -- didn't he ... who remembers?), who rides for Discovery doesn't have the compelling attraction it once had.
So, Levi will be 33. That makes him a one-year loaner, so to speak. Otherwise, Discovery is either too young (Popovych and Tom Danielson) or too old (Hincapie and Vladislav Ekimov, who waved goodbye in Paris).
But before the field lines up in London next July, there will be plenty of other wheels spinning to consider.
agreed '03 - as much as I like Levi ... he doesn't do it for me either (just too small to compete in the long ITTs) - not as team leader anyway (hope they didn't pay him at that level)
ReplyDeletebut, Discovery is putting together a stronger team for '07 with Popo a year older and Tom ready to TdF roll ... Levi could be a great addition for mt attacks & support (and maybe even have great form and win)