Levi, Levi, Levi . . . - 08/01/07

So, Levi almost made me eat my words about him never winning a grand tour. That final TT was an incredible effort. I found myself rooting for him, hoping he would somehow find the strength, power and speed to climb up the podium. I applauded his results. Maybe Levi did have the killer instinct necessary to win the Tour.

But, then he totally killed the fantasy in the post-TT interview. His goal, it appears, was to win the stage and nothing more. He stated that once Dirk Demol told him he was easily going to win the stage and that he was killing it through each time check, that he realized he could be conservative through the remaining roundabouts and turns.

In other words, he started to ride safe.

Now, there is nothing wrong with riding safe when you are protecting, say, first place overall or a podium spot from those behind you who have no hope of catching you unless you come completely unglued or don't finish. But Levi was in neither enviable position. He raced to win the stage, not the Tour de France. His conservativism in the closing kilometers quite probably cost him 2nd place overall. The rate at which he had been pulling back time on Cadel Evans meant he would overtake the Aussie before the finish line. Instead, Cadel took a second back on Levi in the final Ks.

So, I stand by my declaration. Levi will never win a grand tour. He's not a killer or an attacker. You need to be both to win cycling's greatest races.