Interview with Levi
12/08/07 14:26 Filed in: Road Cycling
Cathy: To start with Levi I’d like to hear from you how you originally came back to Discovery Channel for the 2007 season?
Levi: Well you know I was on the team with US Postal in 2000 and 2001 and I’d done really well in those two years and made my break-through in cycling. I always felt it was the program where I did my best. I’d always maintained good relationships with Johan and Dirk and the riders on the team. So it was kind of a no-brainer; I really wanted to come back.
Cathy: During the years that you were the team leader at Rabobank and then Gerolsteiner, was it always in the back of your mind that you would like to go back to Johan’s team?
Levi: Yeah, definitely.
Was it difficult to be the leader of European teams?
It was different but I don’t regret it at all. It made me stronger and definitely more experienced. I think I experienced something that most cyclists don’t get to with a foreign team. I’m proud of being with those teams. I wouldn’t take it back.
It was a unique position you were in. We don’t see many American riders given the chance to head up European teams.
So let’s take a look back at your original goals for 2007 because unless I’m mistaken you were able to meet all of them!
Yeah, I always said I wanted to win the Tour but I think I can be very satisfied with third place.
Let’s start with Tour of California. I know that was a big goal for you. For two years in a row you have ridden into your hometown of Santa Rosa with the leader’s jersey on your back. That must be incredible for you.
Yeah it is. The cycling community in California is great, especially here in Santa Rosa. In my mind Santa Rosa is the jewel of the Tour of California as far as crowd support and enthusiasm. Being able to lead the race into Santa Rosa the last two years has been overwhelming, especially the first year because I didn’t expect it.
The support for you each year in Santa Rosa is amazing. To wander around the town square and see all the signs with your name has to be special. It’s like you own the place!
Yeah, it was amazing and like I said I was overwhelmed. Definitely two moments in my career I will always remember.
Is it your intention to defend your title in 2008? Will Astana come to the Tour of California?
Yeah, definitely.
What do you think of the changes to the route, especially the prologue not going to Coit Tower and then the last stage being a true road stage rather than a circuit?
You know I obviously really like the prologue but I understand that the community of Stanford and Palo Alto have put a lot of support into getting the race to them so they will show everyone a good day and make a big push to help the race grow. The stage into San Jose has been made tougher so I am looking forward to that. There is an extra climb. And the last day is different, yes, we’re not doing a circuit, but I don’t know anything about it yet.
Racing in the Tour de Georgia
Let’s move on to your original goals for the Tour. Talk to me about the Tour.
The ultimate goal for any cyclist is always to win the Tour. But to be able to stand on the podium and win a stage was certainly as much as I could hope for. That 24-hour period between my time trial win and standing on the podium is the highlight of my career. It’s something I wish that I was able to remember more of. I remember a lot of it but I wish I had it on playback so I could review it over and over.
If you had to chose between storming the time trial or standing on the podium would you be able to pick a favorite moment?
I always see that 24 hour period as one moment. That’s the way it feels to me. I guess I could say the time trial because at that moment it became clear that I would stand on the podium for sure but it’s hard to separate them.
Then you won US Pro in September and will wear the Stars and Stripes jersey in 2008. Can you comment on that?
US Pro was a surprise. I certainly didn’t have it on my mind all year. But I felt strong and I knew my role was going to be to go early and force the others to chase for George and he would obviously have to wait, being the hometown favorite and the best sprinter. So I knew I would have to go early and it just paid off. It worked out.
You’ve secured a spot on the US Olympic team, correct? Was that from winning US Pro?
No, that’s not where I qualified for the Olympics. It’s because I was third in the Tour. I don’t have to qualify any other way. As long as I am in competitive form I can go to the Olympics.
Have you gone before?
Yes, to Athens.
What do you think about this opportunity to go again? Are you looking forward to that?
Definitely. The timing is great. It’s like two weeks after the Tour de France so really there is no special training involved. The courses are supposedly very difficult, hilly and hard so that would suit me. I’ll do both the time trial and the road course. I think we will be there well in advance so I’ll have time to check out the routes. I’ve been to China before but not Beijing.
I’ve had the pleasure of hanging around your family at a few races and I don’t think people realize that your family drive the route at the Tour and sleep in their cars when they have to just to be sure to see you race. They are true roadside fans.
Yeah, that’s the way it is at the Tour. There are certain stages they want to see whether there is a hotel available or not.
What does it mean to you to have such a dedicated support team around you?
Obviously when I was growing up and I got into cycling they were very supportive. They owned a bike shop in Montana and that’s how I got into it. My brother Rob got me in to racing. They’ve worked at my career a long time as well and they enjoy coming to the races.
I know your wife Odessa helps you with training and had her own successful racing career. Does she still participate in cycling events?
No she doesn’t race anymore because she injured her back awhile back and couldn’t continue to race. But she’s the main ingredient for my success. I would not have been able to do anything near the things I’ve done without her. We make a really good team.
Now you’re moving on to Astana. When Discovery announced they would not be continuing on what were your first thoughts?
I was very disappointed, thinking I’d need to go back to a foreign team again. I didn’t really see myself going back to do that but then it looked to be inevitable.
Did you have contact with other teams right away that were interested in you?
Yes, yes I did. So I knew I had some opportunities available.
When Johan told you he was going to take over Astana did you have any hesitations about joining him at a team that had problems in 2007?
No, because he explained to me right away that it was a brand new team and the entire management from 2007 was gone. It was basically the same sponsor but a new team. It might be hard for people to realize that the name that is on the jersey doesn’t run the team. They aren’t doing the work.
What do you think your status and respect from within the peloton do to elevate the status of the new Astana?
Well I think I can set a great example for the younger riders and help with training and doing my job really well. I can continue to do my best and get results and I think this will promote a good image for the new Astana.
Do you worry at all about the team being selected for the Tour?
Ya know, I don’t worry about it that much. With the Tour winner and third place finisher on the same team plus the results we’ll have leading up to the Tour PLUS the new image we will create for the team I think it will be enough.
Are you excited about being in on the ground floor of a new team?
I don’t look at it that way. The structure is already set up with Johan and he’s just moving it over. I know he has a lot of work to do and he would probably scoff at the idea that I’ve said there isn’t any setup to do, but really we have all the staff and there is no training involved of new employees. Everyone knows how to do their jobs. I know there is still a lot of work to be done and they are trying to solve some problems from last year. I’m sure everything will be worked out and the team presentation will be in January sometime, at least I think so.
A lot of people tried to create a rivalry between you and Alberto but seeing the two of you in person there never seemed to be tension between you. Can you tell us about your racing relationship with him and how it felt to help him win the Tour?
It’s funny, people did try to create a rivalry. It got kind of annoying at the Tour. I guess that would have made a good story but there was certainly no rivalry at all. Alberto was taking it day by day. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to continue to keep his form and he was racing like there was no tomorrow which was fun to watch! I knew I had to get better as the Tour progressed and that happened. In the end he was the better rider and there is nothing more I can say except that he deserved to win.
It’s interesting when you say he was riding like there was no tomorrow. You are older than he is and probably know your body better. You knew your measured effort had to be x,y,z whereas he’s much younger and more spontaneous but did look pretty tired at the end.
Yeah, true, and he had a lot to protect. He had the win on the line.
How about life after cycling? What do you see yourself doing?
I think I will be involved in cycling for sure. I think I can help motivate others and do different things with cycling. I don’t think I’ll be involved with the racing side but I’m not sure.
I know you and Odessa have an affinity for animals. Can you fill us in?
Yes, Odessa is a co-director of an organization called A Leg Up Rescue in Santa Rosa. She personally has rescued hundreds of animals. We always seem to have a foster or rescued animal coming through the house. She rescues animals in Spain too, bringing some animals back here to find them homes. She works on two continents. We put a lot of effort into it. Especially Odessa. I’ve always been an animal lover myself but more so now that I’ve been with Odessa. We recently had a fund raiser and raised an incredible amount of money for this group and I think it’s our way to do something, and we feel strongly about it. I guess I have enough recognition now to be an asset and raise some money so I can’t see any reason not to do that.
In closing, is there a message you’d like to pass on to the Discovery fans?
I wasn’t there all the years of Lance winning, but I do like to feel like I was a part of the Postal/Discovery history. I know it was an unprecedented run for the team. Obviously Lance changed the sport in the US and introduced the sport to a lot of people and many of those people became fans of the team and fans of mine. Especially at the Tour when we’d do our victory laps on the Champs Elysees, it felt like we were in America because there were so many flags and fans there. Flags up and down the boulevard. It was really special. I think the fans should know that means a lot to the riders, including myself.