Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quickstep)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) speaks somberly about rehabbing his broken leg.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Levi Leipheimer talks about The Levi Effect, a new documentary film.(Image credit: Pat Malach)
The peloton during the 2012 Amgen Tour of California opening stage in Santa Rosa(Image credit: Jonathan Devich)
The opening stage of the Amgen Tour of California kicked off in Levi Leipheimer's home town of Santa Rosa today, and the Omega Pharma-Quickstep captain, who was nearly not able to compete in the race because of a five-week old broken leg, made the front selection on the day's biggest climb. Despite this promising performance, Leipheimer insists he cannot win the overall classification.
"I was hurting at the end, I definitely realized I'm not going to win this race," Leipheimer said to Cyclingnews. "That dawned on me today, I was suffering on [the] Coleman Valley Road [climb]. The good news is there were only 25 riders at the top and I managed to make it."
Despite being encouraged by his form, Leipheimer said in order to win you have to start the race at 100 per cent. "And that's definitely not where I am. The goal along the way is to stay motivated and have success down the road."
Just three weeks ago Leipheimer was having trouble even walking and wasn't able to train, so for him to be at the start line was not only a huge relief for his hometown fans and the race organisation, it was a morale boost for Leipheimer. "I thought I'd be dropped on Coleman Valley, so I'm happy to be where I am."
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Laura Weislo is a Cyclingnews veteran of 20 years. Having joined in 2006, Laura extensively covered the Operacion Puerto doping scandal, the years-long conflict between the UCI and the Tour de France organisers ASO over the creation of the WorldTour, and the downfall of Lance Armstrong and his lifetime ban for doping. As Managing Editor, Laura coordinates coverage for North American events and global news.
