In the article linked below you can get some insight about Levi's (relatively) new approach to his training. He also talks about using pilates for strength training, partly for body balance. Max put me on to pilates 2 years ago and I think it's useful for bike racers-from pure road racers to track sprinters.
For the Tour of CA Levi is fitter than usual, but the Tour is his priority. He hasn't done much specific preparation for the Tour of CA, though he is happy to be racing in his hometown of Santa Rosa. Look for some of the US-based guys to go well, especially in the time trial.
In the article linked below you can get some insight about Levi's (relatively) new approach to his training. He also talks about using pilates for strength training, partly for body balance. Max put me on to pilates 2 years ago and I think it's useful for bike racers-from pure road racers to track sprinters.
For the Tour of CA Levi is fitter than usual, but the Tour is his priority. He hasn't done much specific preparation for the Tour of CA, though he is happy to be racing in his hometown of Santa Rosa. Look for some of the US-based guys to go well, especially in the time trial.
So what happened to your boy Levi yesterday, Warren? Seems to me that he might have benefited from the sort of insight that the Training Manager could provide, so that he wouldn't have been "flat" on such a crucial day! 😄
Seems to me that he might have benefited from the sort of insight that the Training Manager could provide, so that he wouldn't have been "flat" on such a crucial day! 😄
He's probably like the rest of us - still hoping it'll be released before the TdF. 😄
He's probably like the rest of us - still hoping it'll be released before the TdF. 😄
🙂
Actually, it seems to me that Leipheimer was simply a victim of circumstance here, i.e., as a better climber than TTer he had to try to put time into his rivals on the Sierra Road climb on Tuesday, but that strategy failed, meaning that all he got for his efforts were empty legs for yesterday. Nevertheless, I will predict here and now that Leipheimer won't be on the podium in Paris in July...he's just not that good.
Actually, it seems to me that Leipheimer was simply a victim of circumstance here, i.e., as a better climber than TTer he had to try to put time into his rivals on the Sierra Road climb on Tuesday, but that strategy failed, meaning that all he got for his efforts were empty legs for yesterday. Nevertheless, I will predict here and now that Leipheimer won't be on the podium in Paris in July...he's just not that good.
Levi's main goals are for the Tour and his training is aimed at that. He also wanted to wear the Tour of CA leader's jersey into his hometown and he really enjoyed doing that. He hadn't put much emphasis on training for a TT in February that didn't suit him all that well.
He's come a long way from where he was 16 months ago and he's very happy about that.
He's come a long way from where he was 16 months ago and he's very happy about that.
Wait a sec...didn't Leipheimer finish 3rd at the Vuelta back in '01? How, then, is being unable to win* a season-opening, first-year stage race in your adopted home state against primarily domestic competition "coming a low way"?
*I realize, of course, that the fat lady hasn't sung yet...but even you have to admit that the odds are definitely not in his favor now.
Last I checked, Landis and Hincapie were expected to lead (or co-lead) their respective teams in the Tour, and Zabrieskie and Julich are also certainly going to be expected to perform well there. Thus, of the five riders ahead of Leipheimer on GC, O'Neill is the only one you might argue hasn't been holding back in his training...and even he claims not to be in prime shape just yet (despite winning the Aussie National TT for the umpteenth time).
Wait a sec...didn't Leipheimer finish 3rd at the Vuelta back in '01? How, then, is being unable to win* a season-opening, first-year stage race in your adopted home state against primarily domestic competition "coming a low way"?
*I realize, of course, that the fat lady hasn't sung yet...but even you have to admit that the odds are definitely not in his favor now.
His Tour of CA preparation was intended to wear the jersey into his hometown. Beyond that, his preparation is for the Tour de France. Some of the top guys on GC at the Tour of CA are very interested in doing well in some races well before the Tour de France.
Levi's improvement in the Tour de France from 2004 and previously, to 2005 is important. He later won the 2005 Tour of Germany. But hey, don't ask me, read what he himself says about his progress.
Levi's improvement in the Tour de France from 2004 and previously, to 2005 is important.
Leipheimer's top ten Tour de France finishes:
8th in 2002 at 17'11" 9th in 2004 at 20'12" 6th in 2005 at 11'21"
So, while he was closer last year than in previous years, he's not exactly rocketing to the top of the heap, now is he?
WarrenG said:
He later won the 2005 Tour of Germany.
You consider that more significant than finishing 3rd at the Vuelta on 2001?
Anyway, since I'm not a candy-ass I'll stand by my prediction: he won't be on the podium in Paris in July, even if nothing crops up (e.g., illness, injury) to seriously disrupt his preparation.
8th in 2002 at 17'11" 9th in 2004 at 20'12" 6th in 2005 at 11'21"
So, while he was closer last year than in previous years, he's not exactly rocketing to the top of the heap, now is he?.
He was 5th overall until Vino pulled it out at the last minute and one of the guys in the top 6 won't be there this year. As for top of the heap, well that's a pretty big heap with some really good riders so Levi has good reason to be happy.
Levi is really happy with his new-found improvements after so many years in the sport and he only started working with Max as his coach 8 months before the 2005 Tour. It's an interesting thing to think you're near your potential, and then you find a coach who helps you go beyond that previous level. Levi's comments http://www.velonews.com/race/dom/articles/9493.0.html about this and how and why that's happened are the same as mine. They are also a good summary of why great coaches like to coach.
Levi is really happy with his new-found improvements after so many years in the sport and he only started working with Max as his coach 8 months before the 2005 Tour. It's an interesting thing to think you're near your potential, and then you find a coach who helps you go beyond that previous level. Levi's comments http://www.velonews.com/race/dom/articles/9493.0.html about this and how and why that's happened are the same as mine. They are also a good summary of why great coaches like to coach.
As I said, I stand by my prediction: Leipheimer won't make the podium at the 2006 Tour de France.
In the article linked below you can get some insight about Levi's (relatively) new approach to his training. He also talks about using pilates for strength training, partly for body balance
Sorry to beat this dead horse, but: why am I supposed to care what pros think about their training? Are we just curious? Or are we supposed to run out and start doing pilates, because someone who is very near his extremely impressive genetic limits, and has near-limitless time to train, has a hunch that doing pilates is why he got better season-over-season? Even though almost every athlete subjectively feels that he gets better season-over-season?
Even if Levi goes on to win the Giro, Tour, and Worlds in 2006, why should I trust Levi's hunch about why he improved? How does he not know that the real reason he improved wasn't a radioactive package of milk duds he ate while watching "King Kong" that mutated some cells in his stomach lining to start producing EPO 'round the clock? Or whatever?
Sorry to beat this dead horse, but: why am I supposed to care what pros think about their training? Are we just curious? Or are we supposed to run out and start doing pilates, because someone who is very near his extremely impressive genetic limits, and has near-limitless time to train, has a hunch that doing pilates is why he got better season-over-season?
Pilates? Yeah sure, that's all that he's changed. 🙄
Pilates? Yeah sure, that's all that he's changed. 🙄
That was exactly my point, genius. We don't know what he changed. To some extent HE doesn't know what he changed. And even if he did, he wouldn't know which effects are caused by which changes. So, again: why do I care?
That was exactly my point, genius. We don't know what he changed. To some extent HE doesn't know what he changed. And even if he did, he wouldn't know which effects are caused by which changes. So, again: why do I care?
So, don't care. Don't read.
It's not surprising that you don't know what he changed. In the article I linked about Levi's training there are some hints about what he changed and how those changes have improved his performance. Some of these things could be incorporated by other people to help them improve, and that's why I posted the link in this forum about training.
Levi and I have the same coach and I've witnessed first-hand how certain changes in training have helped me, and my comments about the changes would be exactly the same as those expressed by Levi in the article. Our coach has lots of experience and education and he's quite willing and able to explain the reasons for certain training and the resulting effects. It's not nearly as mysterious to us as it is for you.
If you can get to a pilates class every week, do it. Don't have a clue how it will affect cycling performance but stuff like Pilates, Alexander technique, Yoga, core stability exercises are good for you. If you improve core strength and flexibility you get less back pain. Nuff said.
🙂 Nevertheless, I will predict here and now that Leipheimer won't be on the podium in Paris in July...he's just not that good.
On top of that, I don't even think the characteristics of the 2006 TDF favour Levi. Being under 140 lbs soaking wet, I think most of his success in past years has been from the climbing. This year, with a couple of 50+ km ITT's the better time trialers will have more opportunity to take back time lost in the mountains. Not that Levi is BAD at the ITT, he's just not as strong as others - especially if those ITTs are relatively flat.
I'd really like Basso to win - being a CSC fan - but he's going to have the same trouble accumulating enough time in the mountains to keep the better time trialers at bay. 🙁
10:1 on Floyd. He has now confirmed that he was going too hard in training before the Tour of CA. His watts/kg then was too close to what would be desired in July, so now he must use an approach that is generally less effective.
