February 2007 archive
Photo by falling.bullets at flickr.com. Levi Leipheimer fights to add seconds to his margin over challenger Jens Voight in Friday's time trial.
Levi Leipheimer assumed undisputed control of the Amgen Tour of California on Friday, as he powered to victory on the individual time trial and gained valuable seconds on his nearest challenger.
The Discovery Channel cyclist posted the fastest time of 29:40 over the 14.5-mile loop course around Solvang, beating 2nd-place challenger Jens Voigt by 18 seconds, which gives the US rider a 21-second overall lead.
With just two stages remaining, this tour is virtually in the bag for Discovery Channel if Leipheimer's teammates hold off the attacks over the last two stages. Barring a major debacle, the only cyclist within striking distance is Team CSC's Voigt. The strategy for Discovery is easy: “Don't let Voigt get away.” …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/23/leapin-leipheimers-levi-owns-tour-of-california-lead/
Photo by maxima25 at flickr.com
Paolo Bettini, in white at left, and other cyclists sweep around a corner at finish in San Luis Obispo at Tour of California.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/23/final-sprint-in-5th-stage-sweeps-around-corner/
Prosecutors in Santa Barbara County, California, apparently agreed to change vehicular manslaughter charges against a truck driver to “trespass by a motor vehicle” so he won't lose his driver's license.
Truck driver Marcos Almaguer was charged in the January 2006 death of UC Santa Barbara triathlete Kendra Payne on a twisting road near Goleta. The Daily Nexus reports Payne was struck on a training ride with a teammate as they rounded a curve.
Payne's death is the impetus behind Assemblyman Pedro Nava introducing Assembly Bill 60, which would require that passing vehicles give bicycles at least three feet of clearance. …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/23/deal-making-in-bicycle-fatality-charges/
This photo by maxima25 at flickr.com shows stage winner Paolo Bettini (in white at extreme left) and other cyclists sweeping around a corner approaching the finish in San Luis Obispo.
Italian sprinter and world road race champion Paolo Bettini helped school the peloton at the Amgen Tour of California on Thursday when he took the Stage 4 sprint by a tire tread in San Luis Obispo.
Discovery Channel's Levi Leipheimer held onto his slim three-second overall lead ahead of Team CSC's Jens Voigt, setting the stage for a major contest in Friday's 14.5-mile individual time trial around Solvang.
The Tour of California ends Sunday, and whoever is wearing the leader's golden jersey after Stage 5 could have a good chance holding it through the finish in Long Beach. Last year the time trial was timed for an earlier stage in the Tour, but Floyd Landis was able to hold the gold all the way to the finish …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/23/bettini-wins-tour-of-california-stage-leipheimer-still-holding-on/
To the disappointment of some family members, I returned to the “old bike movie” genre recently and rented “Beijing Bicycle.”
The story centers around a stolen bicycle, just like “The Bicycle Thieves,” but this is hardly a Chinese pirated version of the Italian classic.
Granted, central character Guei desparately needs his bicycle for his job as a messenger, but the real complications don't arise until he actually relocates it. Imagine, finding a stolen bicycle in Beijing. …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/22/beijing-bicycle-another-bike-theft-another-movie/
The 2007 Amgen Tour of California has been all about Levi Leipheimer over the prologue and first three stages. That might be about to change.
Although the 3-second lead he takes into Stage 4 is his largest of the Tour, the number 2 man is German cyclist Jens Voigt, a member of the strong Team CSC and a former Tour de France stage winner and yellow jersey holder. He certainly has his eyes on the prize. …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/22/can-leipheimer-hold-on-another-day-at-tour-of-california/
From The Electrician at flickr.com
Here's that final breakaway on Sierra Road hill in Stage 3 of the Tour of California. Levi Leipheimer has taken control on the break, while Jens Voigt (head visible to the right of Levi) conserves in the group. Right behind Levi is American Chris Horner, then Robert Gesink of …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/22/breakway-climb-sierra-road-hill/
Another great movie this a bicycle cast a central star
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/22/beijing-bicycle-cover/
Here's the Levi Leipheimer breakaway on Sierra Road hill. That's Leipheimer in front, followed by another American, Chris Horner, of Predictor-Lotto. The Rabobank rider next to him is Robert Gesink; CSC's Jens Voigt and Discovery's Jason McCartney trail. Photo by The Electrician at flickr.com.
Good team tactics — and awesome climbing chops — helped to save the day for Levi Leipheimer and the Discovery Channel team at the Amgen Tour of California on Wednesday.
Team CSC's Jens Voigt won the 94-mile stage between Stockton and San Jose, as the sole survivor of a 17-man breakaway that attacked at the start and led the peloton across the Central Valley.
Now the challenge for Leipheimer and the Discovery Channel team is how to hold off Voigt — a mere three seconds behind in the overall standings — and his powerful Team CSC, ranked the best in the world …
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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/22/leipheimer-holds-lead-in-stage-3-voigt-closes-gap-with-stage-win/
Crowds line the streets as the Tour of California peloton sweeps past in Sacramento. From jlockwood1 at flickr.com
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/21/tour-of-california-bike-race-wheels-into-sacramento/
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