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Cyclingnews' correspondent Odessa Gunn followed the Vuelta Espana this year and was on hand to watch the US Postal Service rider, Levi Leipheimer, stun the cycling world with a 3rd place overall, finishing ahead of his more fancied team-mate and former Vuelta winner Roberto Heras. Odessa can provide a special insight for this interview: Levi is also her husband.
By Odessa Gunn
OCTOBER 12, 2001: It was amazing to see the best cyclists in the world come together for three weeks of brutal racing. Until you see a Grand Tour up close it's difficult to imagine how hard these guys race day after day on the most unforgiving of courses. This year's Vuelta reached an all time record average speed of almost 43km per hour. To hear this is impressive but to know this after seeing the courses they raced on is mind boggling. I have a new found respect for bike racers and a new found respect for my husband Levi. Let me tell you about him and his Vuelta.
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For those of you who do not already know this, Levi placed third in the overall GC at the Vuelta and more recently placed fourth in the World time trial Championships in Lisbon. He has really taken the Spaniards and the world by surprise.
He went to the Vuelta with the intentions of working hard for teammate and last year's champion, Roberto Heras, but things changed as the race progressed. Levi was third in the opening stage for which he was well suited - a short time trial. He was off to a good start. Then he jumped around a lot in the GC helping Roberto and sacrificing himself on the climbs. On Alto Cruz de la Demande, stage eight, which had lots of climbing and a massive hill top finish, Levi was able to ride for himself and try to get a stage win since the team was not defending the jersey.
He placed fourth and from then on was able to ride his own race. If Roberto or Chechu Rubiera took the lead at any time he was ready to ride for them but this did not happen. The second to last stage was an important one for Roberto. He was not able to shake the other climbers on the Alto de Abantos, the gruelling final climb at the end of the last road stage. This was his opportunity to make up some crucial time needed to stay on the podium. In the end it came down to Levi and Roberto in contention for the 3rd spot on the podium. All that stood to determine who would get it was a 38 km time trial. It was technical with short steep climbs and seemed to be designed for Levi. He placed a surprising 2nd to the time trial wonder Santiago Botero. We all thought Levi would win.
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He moved into 3rd overall bumping Roberto, his teammate off of the podium the final day of the tour. It was without question a sticky situation but Levi and Roberto were both just doing their jobs the best they could and it's simple as that. Levi would be the first American ever to podium at the Vuelta.
To many, Levi is a new star who just fell from the sky and into the middle of elite European bike racing. To others, he is the same hard working American bike racer that he has been for over seven years. Levi went to Belgium to race as an amateur with his friend Jason. They lived a life that would crack most wanna be pro's in just days. When he talks to me about these days I wonder how someone could love bike racing enough to endure the hardships often required to make it as a pro.
Then he returned to America to race with a progression of teams. The National Team, Comptel Colorado Cyclist, Saturn and eventually he signed with US Postal Service in 2000. His first year with the Postal Service was a learning experience and a time to get accustomed to the top level of racing. The team did not enter the Vuelta last year so it was a major goal for Levi from the beginning of this season to do well in Spain's major tour, his first ever grand tour. That he did. Here is how he did it.
First of all you have got to understand Levi. I have never met another person like him. He is very goal oriented and when he has a goal, he is the most single minded person in the World. Trust me I have done everything in my power to distract him at times and it does not work. In the four and a half years that we have been together he has not once scrapped a training ride because of the weather or because he did not feel like riding.
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This season he decided to focus on getting as lean as possible while maintaining his power. He did exactly that. He knew it would be the best way to prepare himself for all the climbs day after day at the Vuelta. He started to take notice of his diet and cut back a little. He lost almost seven pounds and maintained all of his power. It was amazing to see him transform before my very eyes. We did not go through eight million boxes of cereal each week and our cat now weighs more than Levi.
So he went to the Vuelta feeling better than ever. He trained well, rested well and achieved the best form of his life. He is now talking to a number of different teams. He is happy with the US Postal Service but he has got to consider his own career. There have been rumours of money and contracts but none of these rumours have come from informed parties and nothing has been signed. It is true that Rabobank has made an offer and Levi is seriously considering. They are a great organization.
As for the World time trial Championships, Levi will tell you that he is disappointed in himself. He was concerned with his recovery after the Vuelta and it may just have robbed him of some confidence. The course was well suited for him but he had a bad start and never quite felt his best. There is always the road race on Sunday so his season is not over yet. Levi seems to think that Italy and Spain have the most cards to play in Sunday's race. Stay tuned to Cyclingnews to see how it unfolds.