Stage 13 - Levi Lectures

It sure was nice to only have to ride 17 miles today. Unfortunately, the first 17 miles of a ride are the hardest since the legs are tired, stiff and sore from all of the riding. But I'll take an easy sub one hour ride whenever I can get it.


Did you see American cyclist Levi Leipheimer lecturing the other riders in his group during yesterday's coverage of the Tour? He wanted them to work harder as he sat in and sucked on their wheels. His excuse for not working was a classic one; he had a teammate up ahead and a general rule is that teammates don't work to catch each other. Be that as it may, Leipheimer will not win this Tour if he continually refuses to do any work. He probably figures that he can beat everyone at the two time trials and that should be sufficient. Even if it is (however unlikely) he needs to show some aggression and panache to become a true champion. If he has any that is. It's just plain childish for one pro rider to lecture another one about working. Every rider and every team has it's own motives, strengths and goals. For Leipheimer to sit up on his bike while waving his arms and yelling at the other riders is distasteful. He is not the BOSS of the peloton and he never will be.

I'm guessing that Levi and the rest of the riders are safely tucked in their hotel room beds tonight with IV's in each arm. We all want to believe that they're riding clean this year but somebody give Elvis one good reason why they would change their behavior. As long as one rider suspects another rider of cheating he will feel forced to cheat himself. And you would have to be a complete knuckle-head to think that all of the other riders are clean. Ergo - you dope.