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LATEST NEWS: LEIPHEIMER'S 2008 SEASON SAVED BY OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDAL, GERDEMANN WINS TOUR DE L'AIN
Road Bike Action, AFP and Rob Jones
August 13, 2008
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After his third place podium performance in the 2007 Tour De France, American Levi Leipheimer was denied of a big payoff in 2008 as his Astana team was declined a spot in the 2008 Tour by the race organizers. Although the 34 year old Leipheimer won the Tour of California for the second consecutive time, his only real chance for an international cycling result would come at the Beijing Olympic games. Today, Leipheimer went all out to for an Olympic medal and succeeded, winning the Bronze Medal for third place. "I pictured myself on the top step but whether you win a gold, silver or bronze medal, it's the Olympics. It's important," said Leipheimer post race. "It's been a lifelong dream to get a medal at the Olympics for me. I fought really hard and in the end it paid off."
Leipheimer explained what happened in the race today, saying "I could see by the time checks that three or four were battling for third, and I was fighting really hard for that medal. I wasn't going to lose a medal by 10 or 15 seconds." Leipheimer spoke of his motivation today, saying "Kristin (Armstrong's) win was definitely motivating, and helped me to focus more." Leipheimer continued, saying "I've had some great results this year, but to win a medal here is indescribable. It is one of the highlights of my career. This is just as good as winning a stage of the Tour and being on the podium in Paris. I got third. I'm really not upset.I finished strong, I medaled, I'm happy.It's fantastic to win a medal, whether or not you win Gold, Silver or Bronze, it's the Olympics, it's important."
Leipheimer was 4th most of the Olympic TT, and the America rode smart all day, saying "I knew that Contador had started strong but was slowing down. The last time down the hill, I was feeling incredible, and when you know you are in the hunt for a medal, it gives you more adrenalin in the last 500 metres. A little was missing from my legs in the road race; I just didn't have the strength in the last lap. I think that may be from missing the Tour, for sure, compared to the other guys. But for the time trial it could have been a bit of an advantage; I was a little fresher." Levi spoke of his gearing choice in Beijing, saying "I had a 55/11 today, and wish I had used a 56 chainring. For Cancellara to push a 54 down the hill was incredible. 54 or 55 was a big decision today... 54 would have been better for the climb, but I wanted that bigger gear for the descent.
As for the why, Leipheimer explained that "Not doing the Tour helped motivate me for here, for sure. To watch the Tour...it was very hard to sit at home in July. It gave me the motivation to train hard."
(Photo: Rob Jones/Canadian Cyclist)
Germany's Gerdemann wins Tour de l'Ain
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Gerdemann wore yellow another time, in the 2007 Tour de France. Injury kept him out the Tour this year. Photo: Sunada
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German rider Linus Gerdemann of the Columbia team won the Tour de l'Ain cycling race after the fourth and final stage on Wednesday. Gerdemann clocked 14hr 14min 03sec over the four stages to finish 12 seconds ahead of French rider David Moncoutie of Cofidis, with AG2R rider Stephane Goubert of France third on 36sec.
The 25-year-old German, holder of the yellow jersey after his victory on Tuesday, and his Columbia team-mates were dominant on the hilly Bugey stage. In the final section, the peloton closed in on an early breakway group consisting of Frenchmen Sebastien Joly, Benoit Poilvet and Thierry Hupond.
Last year's winner, French rider John Gadret of AG2R, won a sprint finish for the 135.8km stage from Culoz ahead of Finland's Jussy Veikkanen and Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium.
Gerdemann, a Tour de France stage winner in 2007, was ruled out of the Beijing Olympics after failing to recover from a crash earlier this season.
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