From Maja Wood,
Your Guide to Santa Rosa, CA.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

• View the photo gallery of "Levi Leipheimer Day."

Levi Leipheimer (born 1973) is a professional cyclist who resides in Santa Rosa. Sonoma County locals can watch Leipheimer race when the Amgen Tour of California comes through town February 18, 2008.

Top cycling accomplishments:

• 2007 Tour de France, 3rd overall
• 2007 Tour de France, stage 19 winner
• 2007 Amgen Tour of California, 1st overall
• 2006 Dauphiné Libéré, 1st overall
• 2005 Deutschland Tour, 1st overall
• 2004 Setmana Catalana, Stage 4, 1st Place
• 2004 Qualified for Olympic Games in Men’s Road Race
• 2002 Route du Sud, 1st Overall
• 2001 Vuelta a Espana, 3rd Overall
• 2001 World Championships, Time Trial - 4th Place
• Three top-ten finishes in the Tour de France general classification

Memorable Santa Rosa Moment:

In 2006, Leipheimer took park in the inaugural Amgen Tour of California. He had placed first in a previous stage, and so he was wearing the leader’s yellow jersey as he rode into Santa Rosa, his hometown. About 35,000 people had packed the streets to watch the race and cheer him on.

In his online diary of the race, Leipheimer wrote:

"Today was such a big day! I can't even describe it...I don't know what to say. We've got this huge race here in America which comes through my home town, with one of the best pelotons in the world - eight Pro Tour teams that compete in races like the Tour de France and riders who compete in all the big races are here. We've got guys like Gilberto Simoni, Paolo Savoldelli and Michael Rogers - it's an amazing peloton, and for me to come into my home town and lead the race is just fantastic. It's indescribable.

"When I got on the podium I just didn't know what to say; normally I don't have a problem speaking but today I was a little bit overwhelmed to see all the people standing there cheering me on - it was unbelievable."

• Watch Leipheimer’s video diary about riding into Santa Rosa.

Leipheimer went on to finish 6th overall in the 2006 Tour of California. He returned the following year. And not only did he once again ride into his hometown wearing the yellow jersey, he went on to win the entire race.

Notes:

• Leipheimer was a competitive skier from age 12-19. He originally began cycling in 1987 to train for downhill ski racing. He turned pro in 1997.
• He and his wife Odessa live in Santa Rosa with their six cats.
• He auctioned off several of his Tour de France jerseys in 2002. The proceeds went to the Ross Dillon Fund, which helps pay the medical expenses of a Glen Ellen cyclist who was hit by a car while riding in Sebastopol.