Leipheimer reflects on victorious recent past, uncertain near-future

When America's premier pro cyclist speaks, people listen.

"The Tour of California has to expand," Santa Rosa's Levi Leipheimer said. "It's to the point it has such a foothold that it could go up against some of the premier races in Europe, if they (race organizers) want to step up. Running it during May-June would be perfect."

When the guy who won his second consecutive Tour of California has an opinion, it's not jibber-jabber.

"It was the highlight of the tour for me and all the other riders," Leipheimer said of Santa Rosa hosting Stage 1. "All the riders said the same thing. When we came into town for the finish and saw all the people, it had us feeling like this was a big race. If Santa Rosa charged everyone $2 to $5 who was downtown this year for the finish of Stage 1, we wouldn't have a (financial) problem."

For the time being, the rest of Leipheimer's 2008 schedule is in flux. He and his team have been barred from competing in July's Tour de France because past team members -- not Leipheimer -- have had positive drug tests.

But Leipheimer still hopes that ruling will be overturned, and to that end he has a Web site.

"Ninety percent of the people who signed on" to LetLeviRide.com "also sent letters to ASO (Amaury Sports Organisation)," he said. "I imagine their in-box is quite full."

ASO is the autonomous and many would say the knucklehead governing body of the Tour de France that has given Leipheimer and his Astana team the boot.

As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, 42,903 people signed the petition, meaning ASO's in-box has 38,613 letters asking it to reconsider its irrational decision. Through the petition and the letters, Leipheimer hopes an impression will be made.

"They are excluding the defending champion (Alberto Contador) and other riders who can win the tour, including myself," Leipheimer said. "They are depriving fans of seeing the best possible race."

Moreso, ASO is depriving TV viewers of seeing the best possible race. On its Web site, ASO listed the number of TV hours from the 2007 Tour de France. Europe had 1,489 hours while the North and South American continents, listed together, had 508.

Because ASO, like all corporations, is in business to make money, it would make no sense to Leipheimer or his supporters to alienate a significant audience for a sport struggling to gain attention. Especially when that event has an American who could win it (Leipheimer finished third in the 2007).

"I wouldn't be surprised," Leipheimer said, "that at some point the president of Kazakhstan will be making a call" to ASO.

Astana is Leipheimer's team and also the name of the capital city of the newly formed republic. The city and the country are throwing a lot of money into the team with one specific goal in mind: Publicizing a country, not a team.

"That's the whole point of their involvement," Leipheimer said. "They want to promote the country and the region. They want to show the world who they are."

For the record, Leipheimer has never visited Kazakhstan but is making plans.

Also, for the record, it does Astana and its country no good for its pro cycling team to test dirty, especially after last year's Tour de France when Astana was banished. The idea being: Astana and Kazakhstan have experienced enough embarrassment.

Leipheimer would like to see AEG be the sole owner of the Tour of California for years to come, pumping much more money into the event.

The idea here being: AEG, one of the world's leading sports entertainment companies, could apply its considerable wealth to dramatically upgrade the Tour of California and make it one of four world-class cycling events, the others being held in Spain, Italy and France. That AEG has the wherewithal to do so is a given.

AEG outright owns 10 sports franchises, including the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. It owns or controls 13 sports or entertainment facilities, including the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the Target Center in Minneapolis, the Anaheim Convention Center and 28 acres in London that include a 20,000-seat arena.

Because of the mess with ASO and the hope the situation will be resolved in time for him to complete his original 2008 schedule, Leipheimer is unsure when and where he'll race again.

Then again, if he's only training and not competing, Leipheimer has no problem kicking back and savoring his 2008 Tour of California victory. He said this victory was a bit easier to come by for his team than the 2007 one.

"Last year, I led the race right from the beginning," Leipheimer said. "So my team had to work longer to protect the lead (Leipheimer). This year I didn't take over the lead until Stage 3, which meant there were two less days for my team to protect the lead."

His trophy for winning the 2008 Tour of California is a silver platter with the race route engraved on it.

His greatest victory may have been just finishing the race. A total of 132 riders started the race but only 77 finished, almost half the field being taken down by a stomach virus.

How sick was Leipheimer?

"I got a sore throat," he said.

To the victor go the spoils, the silver platter and good health.

You can reach Staff Columnist Bob Padecky at 521-5490 or at bob. padecky@pressdemocrat.com.