Leipheimer working to make Tour of California start

Back in 2008, when the Astana cycling team was feuding with the organization that stages the Tour de France, a grass-roots movement evolved under the name Let Levi Ride. Four years later, we might utter the same phrase.

But this time, it isn't Amaury Sport Organisation that is threatening to sideline Levi Leipheimer. It is the cyclist's own left fibula.

The Amgen Tour of California might properly be called The Race That Levi Built. He has won the event three times, and this year it begins here in Santa Rosa, Leipheimer's adopted hometown. But after getting knocked off his bike by a motorist while tuning up for the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, his availability might not be determined until close to race time.

"Sometimes our challenge is to arrive at the race and beat everybody and be the best and win," said Leipheimer, who now rides for Omega Pharma-QuickStep. "But I think for me, this year's Tour of California, the challenge is to be able to make the start. Ever since April 1st when I got hit, I've been motivated to do everything possible and work as hard as I can to be able to make the start and meet that challenge."

It has been a painful season thus far for Leipheimer. Just 10 seconds off the lead heading into the penultimate stage of the Paris-Nice race in March, and with a time trial (his specialty) set for the final day, he crashed three times in one stage and lost more than seven minutes to the race leader.

"Obviously, I lost a sure podium spot and a chance at the overall," Leipheimer reflected. "But that stuff happens in races. Getting hit by a car was something different, and a bigger deal."

Clipped from behind by an elderly driver the day before the start of the race in Spanish Basque country, Leipheimer at first thought he had only bruised his calf. Upon returning to California, he discovered the fibula was fractured. His recovery has been carefully measured and monitored since then.

"I spent a lot of time, a lot of days on the trainer inside, because it was a more controlled environment and the bike is stable underneath me," Leipheimer said last week.

"It was actually very painful to pedal, but helped to loosen up the muscles around everything. And the doctors said that the bone is stable. ... So after a couple weeks of purely being inside, I ventured outside. First ride was very painful outside. And then about a week later, I was able to start to pedal normally, and that's about where I'm at now."

Levi's decision - to ride in his seventh Tour of California or sit it out for the first time - will not be his alone. His doctors will have to sign off on it, too, based upon both the setting of the bone and the strength of the soft tissue around it.

At 38, Leipheimer has a full body of work in cycling. He has won the Dauphine Libere and the Deutschland Tour, and finished second at the Vuelta de Espana. He owns four top-10 finishes in the Tour de France and a bronze medal from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Some might have taken this latest mishap as a sign, but Leipheimer isn't ready to think about retirement.

"I still love what I do," he said. "I think that accidents happen. I mean, this was very unfortunate. It could happen to anybody. But I'm not gonna let it get me down or force me into retirement, that's for sure. I have a two-year contract with Omega Pharma-QuickStep, so I'm guaranteed to ride again next year."

That's great news for local race fans. The only thing more uplifting would be to see Leipheimer at the start line in downtown Santa Rosa next Sunday.

You can reach Staff Writer Phil Barber at 521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com.