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Levi Leipheimer (born October 24 , 1973 ) is a professional American Cyclist born in Butte, Montana , currently riding for the European Cycling Team Gerolsteiner . A former top-finishing rider for Rabobank, he placed third overall in the 2005 Dauphiné Libéré . He currently resides in Santa Rosa, California , with his wife Odessa. A competitive skier from age 12-19, Leipheimer originally began cycling in 1987 to train for downhill ski racing. He turned pro in 1997, and rode for Saturn in 1998 and 1999. He won the U.S. National Time Trial Championships in 1999, and was invited to join the U.S. Postal Service Cycling Team . Leipheimer breakthrough performance came in the 2002 Vuelta A España . He was riding exceptionally strong and was riding in support of his team leader Roberto Heras . Going into the last Individual Time Trial Leipheimer was in 4th overall and trailed his team leader by a few seconds. During that time trial Leipheimer showed his form was solid and improved his position over his team leader to finish 3rd overall. Following his 2002 Vuelta A España podium finish, the Dutch team Rabobank recruited Levi as a team leader. On his first year with the new team, Levi finished eighth overall in his first ever Tour De France . On August 23 , 2005 Levi won the Tour Of Germany title by 31 seconds ahead of T-Mobile 's Jan Ullrich and Gerolsteiner teammate Georg Totschnig . In 2006, Leipheimer started the season strong and was a favorite to win the Amgen Tour Of California in February. Indeed he took the golden leader's jersey on the first day by winning the time trial prologue up to San Francisco's Coit Tower , and retained it until Stage 2 when George Hincapie went ahead in the overall by earning a ten second bonus in the sprint finish in San José . Arriving in his hometown, Santa Rosa , at the end of Stage 1 was very special to him, his family, and his fans, tens of thousands of whom greeted and cheered him upon his arrival. Leipheimer remained competitive throughout the race (which was eventually won by Floyd Landis ), and he won the competition for best climber. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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