Landis - Leadville

[David Kirk]

I was just reading on the Velonews site that Landis will be doing the Leadville 100 this year. As I recall Lance has also said he'll be doing Leadville. That should be a fun subplot to the whole deal.

Who do you think will take it between these two? I think Landis will kick arse and take names and Lance will have a very hard time keeping up with a seasoned pro mountain biker.

But all bets are off if Ned shows his face...........now that would be fun!

Dave

[Ginger]

I'm sure my buddies who do leadville and finish well will be interested in watching that matchup.

Hey, if Tyler shows it should get really interesting.

I'd take Floyd. My understanding is that a lot of the course is fairly straightforward, but the sections that are ugly are walked by many seasoned mtb riders and the usual leadville crowd.

[aLexis]

Lance is a really good mountain biker. Great technical skills and, well, fast. He may not have trained for that running race, but he's definitely on the mountain bike regularly. It will be a fun showdown in Leadville this summer.

[crossjunkee]

But all bets are off if Ned shows his face...........now that would be fun!

Dave


That would be so great if Ned showed! The Leadville is a great event, even to spectate.

[gdw]

Lance, Landis.....Jan?

[chrisroph]

floyd will kill him.

[Johny]

I rather watch Ivan Basso's sister.

[Steelhead]

I would put my chips on Floyd. I am wondering how his newly rebuilt hip will be doing by then? That sounds like quite a strain to put on that thing this soon after being rebuilt.

[gdw]

I'd like to see Tinker added to the list.

[David Kirk]

I'd like to see Tinker added to the list.

Word.

Dave

[William]

I would put my chips on Floyd. I am wondering how his newly rebuilt hip will be doing by then? That sounds like quite a strain to put on that thing this soon after being rebuilt.

They can rebuild him.
Make him stronger...
Faster...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFWez_80i7k



William ;)

[gasman]

[QUOTE=Steelhead
I would put my chips on Floyd. I am wondering how his newly rebuilt hip will be doing by then? That sounds like quite a strain to put on that thing this soon after being rebuilt



naw-the procedure he had-hip resurfacing allows you to come back pretty quickly compared to the usual total hip replacement.

[BURCH]

http://www.mbaction.com/detail.asp?id=2143

I am pretty sure that I read how Lance finished 2nd at Snowshoe shortly after one of his early tour wins. I can't find it online, so that could have been a myth. Anyhow, I would never bet against him on a bike until he falls flat on his face

[BURCH]

It was Mt snow, not Snowshoe.

http://www.jsmcelvery.com/1999mtb.html

[Ginger]

Ok, so...

Ned, Lance, Floyd, and Tyler show up for a mountain bike race...


finish the joke.

[superunleaded]

Ok, so...

Ned, Lance, Floyd, and Tyler show up for a mountain bike race...


finish the joke.

and then GL shows up and accuses them all as dopers :)



edit:
incoming...

[JasonH]

Ok, so...

Ned, Lance, Floyd, and Tyler show up for a mountain bike race...


finish the joke.

And the local Pharmacists retire early.

[Steelhead]

Ok, so...

Ned, Lance, Floyd, and Tyler show up for a mountain bike race...


finish the joke.

and Ned says - Hey you young punks - back in my day we didn't DOPE !

[Kevan]

Ok, so...

Ned, Lance, Floyd, and Tyler show up for a mountain bike race...


finish the joke.

because the other three are looking for the support car.

[iml]

Neither LA nor Roid Flandis will race Leadville. Excuses will materialize. It's OK for LA to run a marathon and play it off, but he won't be OK not winning a bike race.

The Mt. Snow course was dumbed down for LA, by the way. LA doesn't have the skills of a typical pro XC racer...not even close.

[BoulderGeek]

Wow, I'll have to haul my beer gut up there and check it out!

I'm in awe of those who can run the 100. Freaks, I tell ya.

It's snowing rather forcefully in Colorado right now. About a foot since it began at 7AM on the Front Range.

[chuckred]

because the other three are looking for the support car.


Having completed that race twice (at the back of the pack, but still a finish!), the one wild card in my mind is their ability to ride unsupported, except at the aid stationxs.

The course is not that technical - only a couple of places where a highly skilled mtb racer will gain any time vs. a moderately skilled mtb racer. There's no doubt in my mind that Lance or Floyd have more than enough technical skills that this won't differentiate the race for either.

Floyd of course was a skilled mtb racer before a road racer. Lance's mtb racing never really took off - but again, the technical issues won't be enough to derail him at Leadville.

What it really will come down to is 2 things. First - who can tough out the 100 miles at altitude (and then the surprise 3 more miles at the end when you start to think your computer is off, at least the first time!). Obviously either of these two can suffer through that without too much difficulty.

More importantly, who can best anticipate all of the potential problems - weather, diet, hydration, mechanical, etc. And then deal with the expected unplanned issues. Here I'd have to give Floyd an edge - pro mountain bikers should be a bit more used to having to change a flat on their own rather than getting a new bike tossed their way! Or, the difference could be as simple as who carried a quick link and who forgot one?

And, I don't think for a race of this type, you can really discount the learning curve - Dave Wiens has it down to a science and, assuming he'll be racing again, no doubt will be doing what he can to put the hurt on his new challengers! While his career never was up to par with these two, as they say, "On any given Sunday (or Saturday in this case)..."

Anyway, I'll admit, I'm excited to have the opportunity to line up at the same starting line with these guys. Even if it is to say good by when the police escort turns off the road!

RE: excuses... Lance is riding this as a bet with Chris Carmichael who had a descent time last year. So, I'd be kind of surprised to see him back out...

Floyd of course will be forced out if he isn't able to clear the testosterone issue, as he wouldn't be able to race...

[toaster]

Floyd wins, Tyler crashes out, Ned finishes second or behind Floyd, and Lance gets beat by several amateurs.

[ejh]

I've been doing the run six times and will be going both the run and mt. bike in 07. I would just as well that both would not do it. Its a low key race. We, the Leadville family, don't want that kind of publicity. Eric

[gdw]

I have mixed emotions about their racing. It will help the community financially, the chief reason for the races, but will probably attract a good number of unskilled and unprepared riders who just want to race against Lance and Floyd. It's ashame that Ken and Merrilee didn't hold off on the announcement until after the lottery.

Are you doing Rocky Raccoon in Febuary?

[Ginger]

We, the Leadville family, don't want that kind of publicity. Eric

Hmmm...are you a leadville organizer? I think their opinion may vary.

You're right though, most of my racer friends like it because it's a niche race. A fairly close knit group of endurance riders. Seems like everyone who goes for the first time knows someone else who races it.

[chuckred]

I've been doing the run six times and will be going both the run and mt. bike in 07. I would just as well that both would not do it. Its a low key race. We, the Leadville family, don't want that kind of publicity. Eric

Got a bit of the NIMBY 'tude going there?

Actually, I do understand where you're coming from. I'm sorry, but I'm excited at the opportunity. Where else do you get a chance like that?
I'd be especially happy to hear that they drop a serious chunk of change on the LT100 Legacy in appreciation of the opportunity!

[chuckred]

[QUOTE=gdw]It's ashame that Ken and Merrilee didn't hold off on the announcement until after the lottery.

QUOTE]

I think the word was out well before they made the announcement...

[aLexis]

Neither LA nor Roid Flandis will race Leadville. Excuses will materialize. It's OK for LA to run a marathon and play it off, but he won't be OK not winning a bike race.

The Mt. Snow course was dumbed down for LA, by the way. LA doesn't have the skills of a typical pro XC racer...not even close.

He will do the race. Retirement has allowed him much more time on the mountain bike, and he is definitely no slouch.

[ejh]

Hello, yes I'm doing Rocky rocoon. No I'm not part of the race organization just a runner. I guess I want to keep the race out of the linelight. Eric

[manet]

... Retirement has allowed him much more time on the mountain bike...

ridin' over to kristen's to tie the kid's shoe laces?

[gdw]

I agree with you. The Leadville races are unique and the big names might bring in a different kind of competitor than we're used to and change the atmosphere. I know a number of veteran riders who are talking about skipping the race this year because of the hype. Let's hope for the best.

[Ginger]

... might bring in a different kind of competitor than we're used to and change the atmosphere....

I'm sure you didn't mean that the way it sounds.

Is the niche getting ruined because big names may bring some money and attention to the race? Perhaps some outsiders who can be competitive in the field without the several year learning curve build-up it takes for most people to get up to the top of the heap at Leadville? Without paying the dues that most old timers there consider necessary to bump them from their expected placing (No...really, I know people who predict correctly where they'll finish in the top 20 by who else is registered and showing up. Rarely are they surprised.)?

Riders around the country are looking for the "next big niche" fun thing. Now...admittedly races like Leadville are not "fun" in a certain sense, but from my friends who race it, evidently it is fun in many many ways.

I think big names from the road can only improve Leadville and give other similar mtb endurance races a good boost of interest. You know they'll never be HUGE...it's just too hard.

But that's just me thinking.
Mary Ann